It’s not remedial at all!
Rather the redo and reread of the bible up to the death of Saul at the end of First Kings is informative being from a different perspective and with more details.
More words from the bible with my occasional reaction, thoughts, and prayers. For isn’t all bible reading, study, and spiritual digestion prayerful and contemplative?
Now the sons of Issachar were… Of the posterity of Thola were numbered in the days of David, two and twenty thousand six hundred most valiant men. The sons of Ozi… five all great men. And there were with them by their families and peoples, six and thirty thousand most valiant men ready for war: for they had many wives and children. Their brethren also throughout all the house of Issachar, were numbered fourscore and seven thousand most valiant men for war.
It seems almost as if many wives and many children to build up the number of valiant men for war was the thing in those days. In stark contrast to limited family sizes to control the population explosion and awareness of limited resource thoughts of this day. Is the Universe really limited in any way? Is God limited in any way?
There is much more detail here in 1 Paralipomenon about the tabernacle of the house of the Lord and all the people involved and their various roles. This illuminates the temple for me to the extent that I can feel the spirit of the operation of the temple as though I was there in biblical times:
These they are, whom David set over the singing men of the house of the Lord, after that the ark was placed, and they ministered before the tabernacle of the testimony, with singing, until Solomon built the house of the Lord in Jerusalem…
Their brethren also the Levites, who were appointed for all the ministry of the tabernacle of the house of the Lord. But Aaron and his sons offered burnt offerings upon the altar of holocausts, and upon the altar of incense, for every work of the holy of holies: and to pray for Israel according to all that Moses the servant of God had commanded.
And of the priests… And their brethren heads in their families a thousand seven hundred and threescore, very strong and able men for the work of the ministry in the house of God.
And of the Levites… Sellum was the prince, until that time, in the king’s gate eastward, the sons of Levi waited by their turns… the Corites were over the works of the service, keepers of the gates of the tabernacle: and their families in turns were keepers of the entrance of the camp of the Lord… was porter of the gate of the tabernacle of the testimony. All these were chosen to be porters at the gates, were two hundred and twelve: and they registered in their proper towns… to keep the gates of the house of the Lord, and the tabernacle by their turns. In four quarters were the porters: that is to say, toward the east, and west, and north, and south. And their brothers dwelt in villages, and came upon their Sabbath days from time to time. To these four Levites were committed the whole number of the porters, and they were over the chambers, and treasures, of the house of the Lord. And they abode in their watches round about the temple of the Lord: that when it was time, they might open the gates in the morning.
And some of their stock had the charge of the vessels for the ministry… Some of them also had the instruments of the sanctuary committed unto them, and the charge of the fine flour, and wine, and oil, and frankincense, and spices. And the sons of the priests made the ointment of the spices… were over the loaves of proposition, to prepare always new for every Sabbath.
These are the chief of the singing men of the families of the Levites, who dwelt in the chambers, by the temple, that they might serve continually day and night in their ministry. The heads of the Levites, princes in their families, abode in Jerusalem.
And the people were counted and their number recorded throughout this section of the bible. Takes me back to Numbers and the censuses conducted by Moses:
Day 55: OT Numbers C26-30; Another Census; Moses Serves the Lord to the End!
The domination of the Philistines over the Israelites is replayed here as well. Including the death of Saul and his transgressions:
Now the Philistines fought against Israel, and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down wounded… And the Philistines drew near pursuing after Saul, and his sons, and they killed… the sons of Saul. And the battle grew hard against Saul, and the archers reached him, and wounded him with arrows. And Saul said to his armorbearer: Draw thy sword, and kill me: lest these uncircumcised come, and mock me. But his armorbearer would not, for he was struck with fear; so Saul took his sword, and fell upon it… So Saul died, and his three sons, and all his house fell together… they (men of Israel) forsook their cities, and were scattered up and down: and the Philistines came, and dwelt in them.
And the next day the Philistines taking away the spoils of them that were slain, found Saul… stripped him, and cut off his head, and taken away his armor, they sent it to their land to be carried about, and shown in the temples of the idols and to the people. And his armor they dedicated in the temple of their gods, and his head they fastened up in the temple of Dagon.
So Saul died for his iniquities, because he transgressed the commandment of the Lord, which he had commanded, and kept it not, and moreover consulted also a witch, and trusted not in the Lord: therefore he slew him, and transferred his kingdom to David the son of Isai.
Which takes us to the end of First Kings…
Day 101: OT First Kings C25-31 (END); Philistines Defeat Israel, Kill Saul; David is Living.
Somewhat remedial Old Testament testimony up to the death of Saul. But like the light of a new day there is always something new to see, experience and inspire us if we are willing to look at life in a spiritual way with an open-mind and an open-heart…
Day 137: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; Remedial Old Testament Up to the Death of Saul…
Read and inspired by the Old Testament, The First Book of Paralipomenon, Chapters 6-10
Bible Notes:
This and the following book are called Paralipomenon, which means things omitted, because they are a supplement of things omitted from the Books of Kings. They also repeat much from previous books. I Paralipomenon is a history from Adam, the first man, down to the death of David.
1 Paralipomenon Chapter 6: Family of Aaron; Sons of Gerson, Coath, And Merari; The chief singers of the Temple; The Levites; The high priests; Cities of the Priests; Cities of the Levites.
The sons of Levi were Gerson, Caath, and Merari… begot… begot… begot… Johanan begot Azarias. This is he that executed the priestly office in the house which Solomon built in Jerusalem… Now Josedec went out, when the Lord carried away Juda, and Jerusalem, by the hands of Nabuchodonoser.
So the sons of Levi were Gerson, Caath, and Merari…
?Didin’t we just say that?
…And these are the kindreds of Levi according to their families…
Oh…
These they are, whom David set over the singing men of the house of the Lord, after that the ark was placed, and they ministered before the tabernacle of the testimony, with singing, until Solomon built the house of the Lord in Jerusalem…
Their brethren also the Levites, who were appointed for all the ministry of the tabernacle of the house of the Lord. But Aaron and his sons offered burnt offerings upon the altar of holocausts, and upon the altar of incense, for every work of the holy of holies: and to pray for Israel according to all that Moses the servant of God had commanded.
And these are their dwelling places by the towns and confines, to wit, of the sons of Aaron, of the families of the Caathites: for they fell to them by lot… and the suburbs thereof round about, but the fields of the city… all the cities throughout their families were thirteen.
And the children of Israel gave to the Levites the cities, and their suburbs…
1 Paralipomenon Chapter 7: Posterity of Issachar; Posterity of Benjamin; Posterity of Nephtali; Posterity of Manasses; Posterity of Ephraim; Possessions of the tribe of Ephraim; Posterity of Aser.
Now the sons of Issachar were… Of the posterity of Thola were numbered in the days of David, two and twenty thousand six hundred most valiant men. The sons of Ozi… five all great men. And there were with them by their families and peoples, six and thirty thousand most valiant men ready for war: for they had many wives and children, Their brethren also throughout all the house of Issachar, were numbered fourscore and seven thousand most valiant men for war.
The sons of Benjamin were… five chiefs of their families, and most valiant warriors, and their number was twenty-two thousand and thirty-four… And they were numbered by their families, heads of their kindreds, most valiant men for war, twenty thousand and two hundred… heads of their kindreds, most valiant men, seventeen thousand and two hundred fir to go out to war.
…and his concubine the Syrian bore…
…and the men of Geth born in the land slew them, because they came down to invade their possessions. And Ephraim their father mourned many days, and his brethren came to comfort them. And he went in to his wife; and she conceived and bore a son, and he called his name Beria, because he was born when it went evil with his house.
And their possessions and habitations…
All these were sons of Aser, heads of their families, choice and most valiant captains of captains: and the number of them that were of the age that was fit for war, was six and twenty thousand.
1 Paralipomenon Chapter 8: Posterity of Benjamin; Sons of Ahod; Sons of Saharim; Other chiefs of Benjamin; Genealogy of Saul.
These were the chief fathers, and heads of their families who dwelt in Jerusalem.
…and they dwelt over against their brethren in Jerusalem with their brethren…
And the sons of Ulam were most valiant men, and archers of great strength: and they had many sons and grandsons, even to a hundred and fifty. And these were the children of Benjamin.
1 Paralipomenon Chapter 9: Inhabitants of Jerusalem; Sons of Juda; Sons of Benjamin; Priests; Levites; Porters in Jerusalem; Duties of certain Levites; Singing men in Jerusalem; Genealogy of Saul.
And all Israel was numbered: and the sum of them was written in the book of the kings of Israel, and Juda: and they were carried away to Babylon for their transgression. Now the first that dwelt in their possessions, and in their cities, were the…
And their brethren by their families, nine hundred and fifty-six. All these were heads of their families, by the houses of their fathers.
And of the priests… And their brethren heads in their families a thousand seven hundred and threescore, very strong and able men for the work of the ministry in the house of God.
And of the Levites… Sellum was the prince, until that time, in the king’s gate eastward, the sons of Levi waited by their turns… the Corites were over the works of the service, keepers of the gates of the tabernacle: and their families in turns were keepers of the entrance of the camp of the Lord… was porter of the gate of the tabernacle of the testimony. All these were chosen to be porters at the gates, were two hundred and twelve: and they registered in their proper towns… to keep the gates of the house of the Lord, and the tabernacle by their turns. In four quarters were the porters: that is to say, toward the east, and west, and north, and south. And their brothers dwelt in villages, and came upon their Sabbath days from time to time. To these four Levites were committed the whole number of the porters, and they were over the chambers, and treasures, of the house of the Lord. And they abode in their watches round about the temple of the Lord: that when it was time, they might open the gates in the morning.
And some of their stock had the charge of the vessels for the ministry… Some of them also had the instruments of the sanctuary committed unto them, and the charge of the fine flour, and wine, and oil, and frankincense, and spices. And the sons of the priests made the ointment of the spices… were over the loaves of proposition, to prepare always new for every Sabbath.
These are the chief of the singing men of the families of the Levites, who dwelt in the chambers, by the temple, that they might serve continually day and night in their ministry. The heads of the Levites, princes in their families, abode in Jerusalem.
…these dwelt over against their brethren in Jerusalem, with their brethren.
1 Paralipomenon Chapter 10: The death of Saul; Philistines triumph over Saul’s body; Burial of Saul and his sons; The sins of Saul.
Now the Philistines fought against Israel, and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down wounded… And the Philistines drew near pursuing after Saul, and his sons, and they killed… the sons of Saul. And the battle grew hard against Saul, and the archers reached him, and wounded him with arrows. And Saul said to his armorbearer: Draw thy sword, and kill me: lest these uncircumcised come, and mock me. But his armorbearer would not, for he was struck with fear; so Saul took his sword, and fell upon it… So Saul died, and his three sons, and all his house fell together… they (men of Israel) forsook their cities, and were scattered up and down: and the Philistines came, and dwelt in them.
And the next day the Philistines taking away the spoils of them that were slain, found Saul… stripped him, and cut off his head, and taken away his armor, they sent it to their land to be carried about, and shown in the temples of the idols and to the people. And his armor they dedicated in the temple of their gods, and his head they fastened up in the temple of Dagon.
And when the men of Jabes Galaad had heard this, to wit, all that the Philistines had done to Saul, all the valiant men of them arose, and took the bodies of Saul and of his sons, and brought them to Jabes, and buried their bones under the oak that was in Jabes, and they fasted seven days.
So Saul died for his iniquities, because he transgressed the commandment of the Lord, which he had commanded, and kept it not, and moreover consulted also a witch, and trusted not in the Lord: therefore he slew him, and transferred his kingdom to David the son of Isai.
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