he serves to this day at the King’s Gate on the east. These were the gatekeepers from the camp of the descendants of Levi.p>

He built up the city around it, from the terrace to the surrounding walls;<n id="1" /> Joab restored the rest of the city.

From<n id="1" /> the three he was given double honor and he became their officer, even though he was not one of them.<n id="2" />p>

David did just as God commanded him, and they struck down the Philistine army from Gibeon to Gezer.p>

He then handed out to each Israelite man and woman a loaf of bread, a date cake, and a raisin cake.

and Bela son of Azaz, son of Shema, son of Joel.p> <p class="bodytext">They lived in Aroer as far as Nebo and Baal Meon.

<p class="bodytext">From Benjamin, Saul&#8217;s tribe,<n id="1" /> there were 3,000, most of whom, up to that time, had been loyal to Saul.<n id="2" />p>

So David assembled all Israel from the Shihor River<n id="1" /> in Egypt to Lebo Hamath,<n id="2" /> to bring the ark of God from Kiriath Jearim.

<p class="poetry">May the <sc>Lordsc> God of Israel be praised,p> <p class="poetry">in the future and forevermore.<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">Then all the people said, &#8220;We agree!<n id="2" /> Praise the <sc>Lordsc>!&#8221;p>

<t /><p class="bodytext">David praised the <sc>Lordsc> before the entire assembly:<n id="1" />p> <p class="bodytext">&#8220;O <sc>Lordsc> God of our father Israel, you deserve praise forevermore!

David told Joab and the leaders of the army,<n id="1" /> &#8220;Go, count the number of warriors<n id="2" /> from Beer Sheba to Dan. Then bring back a report to me so I may know how many we have.&#8221;<n id="3" />