1 CHRONICLES CHAPTER 7 - 12

1 CHRONICLES 7

1 The sons of Issachar were Tola
And Puah, Jashub, Shimron, four.
2 And finally the sons of Tola
Were Uzzi and Rephaiah’s store,
And Jeriel and Jahmai and
Jibsam and Shemuel in band
Heads of their father’s house and land,
Of Tola, mighty men and bold
In all the stories that are told,
Whose number in David’s fair day
Was two and twenty thousand sway
And six hundred soldiers in pay.
3 And the sons of Uzzi are next,
Izrahiah, the sons perplexed
Of Izrahiah: Michael and
Obadiah, and Joel and
Ishaiah, five, all of them chief
Men of the people for relief.
4 And with them, by their generations,
After the house of fathers’ stations,
Their soldier bands for war six and
Thirty thousand, and in their band
Were many wives and children grand.
5 Their brother of the families
Of Issachar mighty ferlies,
Counted by genealogies,
Eighty-seven thousand to please.

Issachar has his thousands of fine men,
But not a soul of woman’s named again
Of all the band of many wives and more,
The children sitting by the flocked tent-door.
Issachar has his thousands on the field
And in the villages now long since healed
From battle with the Amoritic host
Who came out with their own flash and their boast.
Beloved, I read the silver names and hear
Michael and Joel falling on my ear
From times long past to live again, I fear,
Within the cabined stretch of northern lake
And fir above the pine, and birch to wake.
Let them not think that there is some mistake.

6 Of Benjamin: Bela, Becher,
And Jediael, the three to share.
7 The sons of Bela, Ezbon and
Uzzi, Uzziel and the grand
Jerimoth and Iri, all five
Heads of their fathers’ house alive,
Great men of courage, counted by
Their genealogies not shy
Of twenty-two thousand and thirty-
Four men armoured, panted and shirty.
8 The sons of Becher: Zemira,
And Joash and Eliezer,
And Elioenai, Omri,
And Jerimoth as well to be
Abiah and Anathoth and
Alameth: all Becher’s sons grand.
9 Number by genealogy
By generations of the free
Heads of their fathers’ house, great men
Of courage, twenty thousand then
And two hundred to ride again.

Becher the young camel, or in the weight
Of Islam camel’s father, nine sons late
With meanings all: the pruning, trimming psalm,
And Jah has given, and God help the balm,
Toward God are my eyes, and Jah gives out,
The Heights, Jah is a father, without doubt
The Answers are found where the Hidden one
Lies, such are the names of Becher’s each son.
Beloved, the cycle shares the secret spent
Of Becher’s love and life, and where he went.
I follow that fair faith of hymn to find
You giving, helping, at my eyes unblind,
Apportioning the heights, a father’s care
To give the hidden answers as my share.

10 The sons of Jediael too:
Bilhan to mention just a few;
The sons of Bilhan: Jeush and
Benjamin and Ehud to stand
With Chenaanah and Zethan and
Tharshish and Ahishahar’s band.
11 All these sons of Jediael
By chiefs of their fathers and well
Great men of courage, seventeen
Thousand and two hundred and keen
For war and battle on the scene.
12 Shuppin also and the Huppim,
The children of Ir and Hushim,
The sons of Aher and the cream.
13 The sons of Naphtali: Jahziel,
Guni and Jezer and appeal
To Shallum, the sons of Bilhah,
Name for both foolishness by law.
14 The sons of Manasseh, Ashriel
Whom she bore, but his concubelle
The Aramitess bore Machir
The father of Gilead’s fear.
15 And Machir took a wife in awe
Of Huppin and Shuppim by claw
Whose sister’s name, it was Maacah,
The name of the second was glad
To be at last Zelophehad,
Zelophehad sired daughters sad.

It always comes out with a jubilee
Of shout that Zelophehad’s daughters’ fee
Was to inherit with the men their plot
So that their father’s name not be forgot.
I too, Beloved, raise single voice to show
The justice of the way You chose to go,
But make complaint again that You did not
Defend them till they themselves fired a shot.
The hope of Gilead is one to reign
Even when dearth appears upon the plain,
And all seems lost if not because the sons
Failed from the hearth, but because in its tons
Troubles arise on every hand to spark
A fearsome twinkle in the land of dark.

16 And Maachah wife of Machir bore
A son and called his name to score
Peresh, and the name of his brother
Was Sheresh to rhyme with the other,
And his sons were Ulam, Rakem.
17 And the sons of Ulam, ahem,
Were just one and only Bedan.
There were the sons down to a man
Of Gilead, the son by plan
Of Machir, Manasseh’s son’s fan.
18 and his sister Hammoleketh
Bore Ishod, Abiezer’s breath
And Mahalah before her death.
19 And the sons of Shemida were
Ahian and Shechem to stir
And Likhi and Aniam fer.
20 And the sons of Ephraim came,
Shuthelah, and Bered by name
His son, and then Tahath his son,
And Eladah his son begun,
And then again Tahath his son,
21 And Zabad his son and again
Shuthelah his son in his den
And Ezer and Elead then,
Whom the Gathites born in the land
Killed because they came down in band
To steal their cattle from their hand.
22 Their father Ephraim stayed to mourn
For many days and his forlorn
Brothers came down to comfort him.
23 When he went to his wife in trim,
She conceived and bore a son and
He named him Beriah to stand
For the plague on his house and grim.
24 And his daughter was Sherah who
Built Bethhoron the lower too,
As well as upper, Uzzensherah.

The ear of Sherah heard the call to build
Bethhoron and Uzzensherah by skilled
Labour across the laden valley filled
With harvest of grape, barley, olive, wheat.
The ear of Sherah, why so named a treat?
The upper town is called by such a name
That makes me wonder till I feel my shame.
My shame’s not only that I don’t recall
Why such a name show grace a fine town hall,
But also that it seems in all the years
That Christians have named children in their fears
And hopes that Bible names will bless their young,
Sherah is not a name on any tongue.
Perhaps somewhere that blessed name appears.

25 And Rephah was his son as well,
Also Resheph and Telah’s tell
His son, Tahan his son as well.
26 And Laadan his son, Ammihud
His son, Elishama the good
His son, Nun his son, Jehoshua,
His son the famous one, no fewer.

Ammihud ben Laadan could never guess
That his name would one day fit the address
Of those who bless and curse because of mess
Upon the native shore that once was sold
For beads of brass and glass instead of gold.
Ammihud ben Laadan is just a name
Among the genealogies of fame
Lost in the Scriptures that are never read
Upon the Sabbath day for those who’re fed
On cantillation of the sacred key.
Few but myself turn to its melody
And sing forgotten names as I return
To bow before the throne for what I earn
On lichen-covered granite under tree.

1 CHRONICLES 8

1 Now Benjamin produced Bela
His firstborn, Ashbel a fellow
To be the second, Aharah
The third, 2 Nohah the fourth, and then
Rapha the fifth. 3 The sons again
Of Bela were Addar, Gera,
Abihud, 4 Abishua, and
Naaman, Ahoah, 5 Gera’s stand,
Shephuphan, and Huram in hand.
6 These are the sons of Ehud, who
Were chiefs of the fathers’ clans by
The dwellers of Geba and nigh,
And who forced them to move away
To Manahath on one sad day:
7 Naaman, Ahijah, and Gera
Aho forced to move outside law.
He produced Uzza, Ahihud.
8 And Shaharaim had when he could
Children in Moab’s land, after
He’d sent away Hushim and her
Companion Baara, his two wives.
9 By Hodesh his wife he contrives
To produce Jobab, Zibia, and
Mesha, Malcam, 10 Jeuz to stand,
Sachiah, and Mirmah. These were
His sons, chiefs of their fathers’ stir.

My plaint is for Hushim and Baara who
Were wives together and made up the two
Who first gave Shaharaim a place in view.
The failure of good men in gratitude
To women who give them both love and brood
Is credible, yes, but I don’t approve
Of men who tire of wives and make a move.
My plaint is for Hushim and Baara when
They were rejected from the world of men
And left sequestered who knows where to wait
For death since life had passed them by in fate.
Beloved, my plaint goes up today to You
Despite the fact the principles are dead,
I still hold up their case to fountain-head.

11 And by Hushim he had produced
Abitub and Elpaal reduced.
12 The sons of Elpaal were Eber,
Misham, and Shemed, ones who were
To build Ono and Lod along
With its towns, 13 and Beriah strong
And Shema, who were chiefs of their
Fathers’ clans of the dwellers fair
Of Aijalon, who drove out from
Gath its inhabitants to come.

Elpaal means God has wrought and so I find
No fault with the name. I am disinclined
To love the name Abitub, which I think
May mean my father’s good, if my own link
To understanding Hebrew fails me not.
It was a disappointment in the plot.
My dad is good? And yet he left the mother
And went off to bed and breed with another.
Did Shaharaim himself pick out the name?
Or was the mother’s hopefulness to blame?
I do not know, and yet I think the claim
Less than the truth, considering that he
Left two wives empty and went on the spree.
Beloved, judge now between these folks and me.

14 As well as Ahio, Shashak,
And Jeremoth to lead the pack,
15 And Zebadiah, and Arad,
And Ader, 16 Michael not half bad,
And Ispah, Joha, and the sons
Of Beriah, 17 And Zebadiah,
And Meshullam a hardy flier,
And Hezeki, and Heber too,
18 Ishmerai also, and the crew
Of Jezliah, Jobab, the sons
Of Elpaal come in their tons,
19 And Jakim, Zichri, and Zabdi,
20 And Elienai and the free
Zilthai and Eliel 21 and still
Adaiah, Beraiah to fill
The list with Shimrath, the sons all
Of Shimhi, 22 And Ishpan to call
Heber and Eliel, 23 Abdon,
Zichri, Hanan, and before run
Hananaiah and Elam and
Antothijah to make a stand,
25 And Iphedeiah, Penuel,
The sons of Shashak for a spell.
26 And Shamsherai, and Shehariah,
Coming all up to Athaliah,
27 And Jaresiah, and Eliah,
And Zichri, sons of Jeroham.
28 These were the heads of fathers’ scam
By generations and the chief,
Lived in Jerusalem’s relief.

Zichri may be my male or souvenir,
As I climb off my well-washed Sabbath bier
To dance with the momento that I fear
To face throughout the week in labour clear.
Zichri reminds me with a virile arm
To stop after six days of doing harm
Or gathering the wheat in bin and coil
To eat from my own and from others’ toil.
Beloved, remind me every hour to come
Back to Your keeping and to count the sum
Of my days male and minding while the week
Sinks into memories that I may seek
As old age looks to You to mind the way
That You are the bright light of every day.

29 At Gibeon there lived and dwelt
The father of Gibeon svelt,
Whose wife’s name was Maachah, 30 and his
Firstborn son Abdon was a whiz,
And Zur and Kish and Baal, Nadab,
31 And Gedor with the gift of gab,
And Ahio and Zacher’s flab.
32 And Mikloth sired Shimeah, and
These also lived there in the land
Of Jerusalem with the band
Of their brothers, near by at hand.
33 And Ner begot Kish, Kish begot
Saul and Saul Jonathan in slot,
Machishua, Abinadab,
And Eshbaal to win a crab.

With Ner and Kish and Saul I find
The genealogy of good and kind
The favourite, my Jonathan who sees
That David’s the one above all to please.
I wonder what I would have done with those
Two lovers if I’d live among and chose
To find them panting on the arrowed field.
Instead I live among the brightly steeled.
At least warfare is something we have got
In common with that ancient loving lot.
The battle and the song are of one plot,
The harp and javelin sing at the ear
Though David and his Jonathan, no fear,
Rest in their genealogies now healed.

34 The son of Jonathan to come
Was Meribbaal, and at a hum
Meribbaal sired Micah first.
35 The sons of Micah were not worst:
Pithon, Melech, Tarea and
Ahaz. 36 And Ahaz sired first-hand
Jehoadah, Jehoadah
Sired Alemeth by hook or claw
And Azmaveth and Zimri too,
And Zimri sired Moza and crew,
37 And Moza sired Binea too,
Rapha was his son and the next
Eleasah his son unvexed,
And Azel his son least perplexed.

The last of four was Ahaz, but the first
And only to be listed with the burst
Of genealogy and siring sport.
I see the spires of Moza’s dark-lanced fort.
So Moza is the lineage and a find
Upon the plain of sires and sons to bind
The strong perhaps in Binea, since the weak
Is found in Rapha as lineages seek.
Beloved, my right hand and my left are strong
To do the right and sometimes do the wrong,
And yet I too look to the younger son
When my path of blessing on earth is done,
And take Jacob, Rapha and the left hand
And turn upon the dizzied floor to stand.

38 And Azel had six sons in all
Whose names are these writ on the wall:
Azrikam, Bocheru, Ishmael,
And Sheariah for a spell,
And Obadiah and Hanan.
All these the sons of Azel man.
39 And the sons of Eshek his brother:
Ulam his firstborn and another
Jehush, the third Eliphelet.
40 The sons of Ulam don’t forget
Were great men of courage to shoot
With bows and arrows and astute,
And they had many sons and sons’
Sons, hundred and fifty, it stuns.
All these are Benjamin’s bright sons.

He set aside a shade next to the wall
Of six sons born to battle and to call
To life and birth and courage for the fall
Until Ulam’s offspring learned how to shoot
And every foe fell down dead in his boot.
Why not a seventh son to meet the tall
And full measure of hope in number’s game?
I should not stop at six, Beloved, for shame,
But go on to the seventh in the flame
Of love and heat and light until the name
Of seven stood against the dead of night.
Beloved, I look about with pen to write
The names of six or seven of the right
And find only One and yet out of sight.

1 CHRONICLES 9

1 All Israel were accounted for
By genealogical score,
And inscribed in the book of kings
Of Israel and Judah, till things
Got bad and they were carried off
To Babylon for wicked scroff.
2 The first inhabitants that sat
In their own lots in their towns’ flat
Where Israelites, the priests, Levites,
The Nethinim in their own rights.

My promise is to lack to meet the twelves
Come out to dance with demons and with elves
Even if ten commandments do not make
Length and width enough for my harried stake.
When with one more I fill the ninth room here
Along the battlement of namely gear,
I sink my teeth in roasted meat and try
Not to gloat over every passer-by.
Some love the word and some would rather die
For faith or quaint belief about the gum.
Only a slight harmony or a hum
Likes to return to honey on the sty.
Long have I tried to meet my promises,
Yet criticism strikes both hers and his.

3 And in Jerusalem their lived
Of Judah’s folk and the folk sieved
Of Benjamin, and Ephraim
And Manasseh all safe and trim.
4 Uthai the son of Ammihud,
The son of Omri and the bud
Of Imri, the son of Bani,
Of Pharez’ children on a spree
The son of Judah and grand prix.

Uthai may be a foreign name, who knows?
At least I find no meaning where it shows.
Ammihud may have tired of the weight
Of splendour to carry a name so great.
If my folk were so glorious, I think
I should have no complaint upon the brink,
But would give lovely names to all my brood
To keep them off the ways and words of crude.
But to each be his own, I fry my wealth
In words without, without meaning in stealth,
Until I find that all words lead to one
And all lay down the crown when they have done.
Beloved, I search Uthai for meaning till
The last lamp goes extinguished on the hill.

5 And from the Shilonites: Asaiah
The first born and his sons and crier.
6 And of the sons of Zerah feinty,
Jeuel and co. six hundred ninety.
7 And from the sons of Benjamin,
Sallu the son of Meshullam,
The son and crew of Hodaviah,
Who was the son of Hasenuah,
8 And Ibneiah the faithful son
Of Jeroham, and Elah son
Of Uzzi, the son of Michri,
And Meshullam in son’s degree
Of Shephathiah who was son
Of Reuel Ibnijah’s son done,
9 And their brothers in generations,
Nine hundred fifty-six in stations.
All these men were chief of the fathers
In the house and land of their fathers.

Four lacking from a thousand, I relate.
I know the feeling of not being great.
Four lacking of the thousand at the gate
Until the brothers rise in a new state,
The world whirls on while on the floor
The soul seems to give style to nothing more
Than being and in silence makes a break
For yonder timber and the crystal stake.
Beloved I wander in the four gates too,
And search out many lovely things to do
As long as mischief is not of my pew.
I wander in the four until I find
Nine hundred ninety-six to make me blind
To forty whirling in the unrefined.

10 And of the priests: Jedaiah and
Jehoiarib and Jachin’s hand,
11 Azariah son of Hilkiah,
Meshullam’s son and first desire,
The son of Zadok, Meraioth’s
Son, son of Ahitub in growths
The ruler of the house of God.
12 And Adaiah Jeroham’s son,
The son of Pashur, who was son
Of Malchijah and Maasiai,
The son of Adiel, the guy
Was son of Jahzerah, the son
Of Meshullam, who was the son
Of Meshillemith, who when done
Was son of Immer on the run.
13 And their brothers, the heads of house
Of their fathers both cock and grouse,
A thousand seven hundred and
Sixty and very ably manned
For the work of worship within
The house of Ælohim with din.

To her the jewel of eternity,
Adaiah sits alone beneath the tree
And shares with lists of sons his golden store
Of promises and wishes at the door.
To her the jewel of eternity,
What name is that that lets my soul go free
To wander stony paths till every shore
Appears to go on and for evermore?
Let me, Beloved, try for the thousand manned
And seven hundred of courageous band
To find the sixty waiting at the stand.
Let me, Beloved, whirl on the whitened sand
Until the work of worship rises up
In sounds of lowing oxen and of tup.

14 And from the Levites: Shemaiah
The son of Hasshub, sin-in-claw
Of Azrikam, Hashabiah’s
Son, of sons of Merari’s laws.
15 And Bakbakkar, Herish, Galal,
And Mattaniah, worth his sal,
Son of Micah, son of Zichri,
The son of Asaph by degree.
16 And Obadiah, Shemaiah’s
Son, son of Galal, the son’s paws
Of Jeduthun, and Berechiah
The son of Asa, no pariah,
The son of Elkanah, who lived
In Netophathite towns unsieved.

Though El Qanah’s a jealous God who knows
To speak to Israel at the mount and shows
If not a face, a voice that comes to blows,
I think the images beneath the toes
Of earth and cloud are nought to take in fame
As representatives of Your bright name.
Though El Qanah’s a jealous God for grief
To generations saved from ill belief,
I find in El Qanah my last relief
Before the coming of heirloom and fief.
Beloved, the best name comes to bite my ear
When I recite Your Decalogue in fear,
And find the darkness and the cloud a place
Where I stand nude without shame of Your face.

17 The porters were Shallum, Akkub,
And Talmon and Ahiman’s dub,
And their brothers, Shallum was chief,
18 Who up till then stayed in relief
In the king’s gate toward the east,
They were the porters and increased
In the bands of folk of Levi.
19 And Shallum, Kore’s son, a guy
The son of Ebiasaph, the son
Of Korah and his brothers won,
Of his father’s house, Korahites,
Over the work of worship sites,
Keepers of tabernacle gates,
And their fathers, over the states
Of YHWH to keep the entry rates.
20 And Phinehas, Eleazar’s son
Ruled over them in times now done,
And YHWH was with him on the run.

Well, Phinehas. He is a man for fame
To piece with javelin the crying shame
That Balaam inspired Balak in his claim
Against the folk of Israel on the shore
Of Jordan before knocking at the door
Of Jericho. Sweet Jericho still lies
Under the tranquil blue of mounting skies
Above the ragged mountains that were set
To view the feast and dancing that were met
Upon a day when Phinehas came out
And set the pagan gods all in a rout.
Beloved, I am no man of war myself,
And yet I love Phinehas beyond elf
As I sit quietly upon my shelf.

21 And Zechariah who was son
Of Meshelemiah begun
As porter of the door in tent
Of the assembly where it went.
22 All these elected there to be
Porters in the gates of the free
Were two hundred and twelve, these be
Counted by their genealogy
In their places, which David and
Samuel the seer did command
In their established posts to stand.
23 They and their children oversaw
The gates of YHWH’s house from the raw,
That is the tabernacle house
From dangers of both foe and mouse.

Two hundred twelve is quite a number set,
One hundred and one more is all that’s met
Beside the Qaaba never to get wet
Unless a season’s cloudburst come delight
The Meccan moon, the Meccan star and night.
Two hundred twelve men all in places found
And ready to bow head and hand to ground
To serve You, my Beloved, and David round
The fortress and the tabernacle door.
The seer in Samuel stands upon the shore
Still watching and still waiting for the score
Of righteousness to rise up to the post
And make the deeds of men worthy of boast,
The gates of Your house, my Beloved, and host.

24 On four sides were the porters’ mouth,
Toward east and west, the north and south.
25 There brothers in their places came
After seven days timed in their claim.
26 For these Levites, chief porters four
Were set in their posts and their store
Of treasures in the house of God.
27 They lived around about the sod
Of house of Ælohim, because
It was their duty there by laws
To open every morning’s draws.
28 Some of them had the keep of pots
Of service, transporting in lots.
29 Some took care of the furniture,
And holy vessels of the pure,
And fine flour, grape juice and the oil
And frankincense and spices’ coil.
30 And from the sons of priests some made
The perfumes of spices allayed.

Some made from spices their own rare perfumes
Such as no secular man in his rooms
Dare make unless he would combat his dooms.
Some took the furniture in care and brought
The holy pots full of fine flour and taught
The grape juice not to spoil in jar and place
Of darkness and of coolness from the trace
Of oil upon the threshold for a mace.
Some came at morn to open up the door
And let the sunlight filtered on the floor
Rejoice a moment till the time for more
Had rounded on the day and left a chore.
Beloved, some come and go, some do and praise,
But I am only here for days and days.

30 And Mattithaiah, the Levite,
Who was firstborn of Shallum’s right
The Korahite, established post
Over things made in the pans’ boast.
32 And from their brothers, of the sons
Of Kohathites, over the buns
Of showbread for each Sabbath day.

The Kohathites made showbread for the day
Of Sabbath and brought the fresh loaves in pay
Each week to set upon a table rare,
To gleam behind the veil and simmer there.
The Kohathites did nothing else in view,
At least those set for this brave task, to do
Your will in tent and temple. Every hand
Has some small labour to fulfil command.
Beloved, there are no Kohathites that live
And bake in my time and place, none to give
The fragrant, holy loaf on Sabbath eve.
I pine for those lost moments of reprieve,
And make do with the now and here and find
My rye bread just as succulent and vined.

33 And these are singers in their way,
Chief of the Levites’ fathers’ sway,
In chambers free, for it was they
Who served in that both night and day.
34 These chief fathers of the Levites,
Chief through their generations’ rights,
These lived on Jerusalem’s heights.
35 In Gibeon lived the father of
Gibeon, Jehiel, whose wife’s love
In name was Maachah for her fame.
36 And his firstborn son Abdon, then
Zur, Kish and Baal and Ner in den
And Nadab, 37 Gedor, and Ahio,
And Zechariah, Mikloth low.

Gedor’s a name reminds me of Ghadir,
The enclosed oasis that without fear
Proclaims the name that I still must revere
As I climb up the mountain like the seer.
Gedor’s a name that brings to mind the clear
Waters and the green pastures where the flock
And herd take refuge from the burning rock.
Gedor’s a name that hardly is heard now
After the purpose prophetic somehow
Unfolded after pilgrimage was late
To remind everyone of prophet’s fate.
Beloved, name some man still Gedor to mind
Of that day when half of the world went blind.

38 Mikloth sired Shimeam. And they
Also lived in their brothers’ way
There in Jerusalem and near
Their brothers where they all appear.

Mikloth sired Shimeam. The rods lightly
Come to the mouth of womb if there to see
Escape in from everlasting ennui.
Love of sons and why not daughters too makes
Woman and man abide the tricks and shakes
Along the living of both night and day.
I rise up and walk to the shop to pay
No more than what I must to eat my bread.
Some find a place to rest when all is said,
For nothing is greater than that thing spread
Out on the human wounds of heart and skin.
Low bends the head and knee as though for sin,
Lovingly calls at open door come in.
Young and old gather at the fountain-head.

39 And Ner sired Kish, and Kish begat
Saul, and Saul sired Jonathan fat,
And Malchishua and the rat
Abinadab, and Eshbaal’s cat.
40 The son of Jonathan to come
Was Meribbaal, and he with hum,
Meribbaal sired Micah in sum.
41 The sons of Micah were Pithon,
Melech and Tahrea, one gone
Was Ahaz in the spring of dawn.
42 And Ahaz sired Jarah, and he,
Jarah begat Alemeth free,
And Azmaveth and then Zimri,
And Zirmri sired Moza with glee.
43 And Moza sired Binea and
Rephaiah his son came to stand,
Eleasah his son, Azel
His son came to bless Israel.
44 And Azel had six sons, whose names
Are these, Azrikam Bocheru’s fames,
And Ishmael, and Sheariah’s claims,
And Obadiah and Hanan,
These sons of Azel to a man.

More names that are repeated in the fund
Create confusion of the moribund.
Enough I say without the repetition
Longing to fill the book with ammunition.
Why not repeat a name if by its glow
Another sigh and song may sound below?
I cantillate the names again, again
Number the sacred sounds vouchsafed to men.
Some bask in light and sound of mass and noise
From the rock stage brighter than battle boys,
Or sit upon the wall and watch the game,
Lovely as fruit upon the evil shame
Languishing in the garden with the snake.
You might be glad about the songs I make.

1 CHRONICLES 10

1 The Philistines attacked the folk
Of Israel, and every bloke
Of Israel fled from before
The Philistines, and score on score
Fell dead on Gilboa by stroke.
2 The Philistines pursued hard after
Saul and his sons, no count for laughter,
The Philistines killed Jonathan,
Abinadab, and before done
Malchishua, the sons of Saul.
3 The battle went hard against Saul,
The bowmen struck him and for gall
He staggered at the bowmen’s call.

I guess a prophet would say that You sped
The heels of Philistines against the red
And bloody hands of Saul. But I remind
You that David Your chosen in a bind
Spared more than once Saul’s life. So give in kind.
Saul did consult a witch, but so do most
Of those in government today that boast.
Saul did throw javelins against the wall,
But so do most princes and have a ball.
Saul was the king of unified estate
And for the most part sanctified Your gate.
Think in the relative. David’s own sons
Were more than half worse people in their runs
Than Saul. And yet the archer’s arrow
Struck Your anointed in the tight and narrow.

4 Then said Saul to the one who bore
His armour, “Draw your sword before
And stab me through with it, so these
Uncircumcised come not like fleas
To torture me.” But that man who
Bore his armour just would not do,
For he feared the anointed true.
So Saul took sword, fell on its rue.
5 When he who bore his armour saw
That Saul was dead by his own claw,
He also fell on sword and died.
5 Saul died and his three sons beside,
His whole house together there died.

The way of honour in the greater grief
Is suicide, that boon of great relief
When all is lost and in despair no hope
Gleams up beyond the unsheathed sword and rope.
The way of honour is unkind when met.
It throws the soul and body in the net.
Beloved, I flee among the hurtling trees
And search out refuge from the taunting breeze
Until I find the barren hill where Saul
Fell on his sword and at the great appal
His armour-bearing drank the bitter gall.
With Jonathan dead too, then what was left
I ask that was not dark, bereft?
Reality forces man to his knees.

7 When all the men of Israel there
In the valley saw evil share,
They fled, and that Saul and his sons
Were dead, they left their cities’ guns
And fled away and Philistines
Came and lived in their cities’ scenes.
8 It chanced upon the next day when
The Philistines came out of den
To spoil the slain, that they found Saul
And his sons fallen in the brawl
Upon mount Gilboa to sprawl.
9 When they had spoiled him then they took
His head and armour he forsook
And sent to the land’s every nook
Of Philistines to bring the news
To their idols and folk in pews.
10 They put his armour in the house
Of their gods and tied up the grouse
Of his head in Dagon’s bright house.

If only Saul were taken in the spoil
Perhaps I might be reconciled to toil.
But I see ever truth upon the scaf
And Philistine on golden chair to laugh,
And it is not original in me
To note the sinking stars’ eternity.
Gilboa is a continent at least
And spreads around the world in gaunty feast.
Beloved, I weep not only for the soul
Of Saul and Jonathan upon the mole,
But for the millions yet unnamed that fall
Each day beneath the cutting and the maul
Until my eyes are sore with salt and tears,
Until my eyes are opened to my fears.

11 And when all Jabeshgilead
Heard all that the Philistines had
Done to Saul when they had run mad,
12 They got up all the valiant men
And took away the corpse again
Of Saul and bodies of his sons,
And brought them to Jabesh with guns
And buried their bones by the oak
In Jabesh and fasted a stroke
For seven day before they spoke.
13 So Saul died for his sins that he
Committed against YHWH freely,
Against the word of YHWH that he
Did not obey, and also for
Consulting a jinn’s common whore
To enquire of the future’s store.
14 And did not ask of YHWH, therefore
He killed him and gave the kingdom
To David Jesse’s son for plum.

What man is perfect in Your chosen place?
How many could stand better in the race
Than Saul, and yet the writer of Your word
Considers him no better than a turd.
The modesty and honour of the man
Inspires me still no matter what I scan.
My heart’s the heart of David so by plan
I praise Saul for his hopes and acts and heat
Against the evil on Philistine beat.
Beloved, I praise Saul still without retreat,
And ask You, is it not so that his arm
Had done more good on earth than it did harm?
Not You but Philistine, I trow came by
With sword and ploughing to see King Saul die.

1 CHRONICLES 11

1 Then all Israel came to David
At Hebron after David hid,
Saying “Indeed we are your bone
And your flesh. 2 “Also, in time gone,
Even when Saul was king, you were
Leading Israel out to incur
Wrath on the enemy and brought
Them in, and YHWH your God has taught
You saying ‘You shall shepherd My
People Israel, and by and by
Be ruler of Israel My folk.’”

When one hero dies on the frozen sod
Of Gilboa forsaken by his God,
The people are quick to return and find
Another to lead them like cowed and kined.
When one hero dies with the hand on sword,
Having given in sacrifice adored
Hopes of peaceful domesticy and life
To save his people from impending strife,
The folk are fast to turn toward relief
From sorrowing, a few feed on a grief.
Beloved, my hero’s dead and so I turn
To find a David on the heathered burn
And raise a lyre to sing aloud his praise
While one is still warm on the puzzled craze.

3 Therefore all Israel’s elders spoke
To the king at Hebron, and made
A covenant where David stayed
At Hebron before YHWH. Then they
Anointed David Israel’s king
For what YHWH said by Samuel’s thing,
And then arose and went their way.
4 And David and all Israel went
To Jerusalem, as one sent,
Which is Jebus, where Jebusite
Was dwelling on the very site.
5 The dwellers of Jebus said to
David, “You shall not come here too!”
But David took the stronghold of
The fortress, (Town of David’s love).
6 And David said, “The one who goes
Against the Jebusites first knows
He shall be chief and captain.” And
Joab son at Zeruiah’s hand
Went up first, and became the chief.
7 David lived in the stronghold’s fief,
That’s why they called it David’s City.
8 And he built around it the city,
From the Millo to all around.
Joab made the rest safe and sound.
9 Then David went on and was great,
And YHWH of hosts was with his fate.

Beloved, You once established Your own man,
David, king of Israel by Your plan,
And gave him the stronghold of fortress fast
To reign in as long as Zion shall last.
The caravan of human power goes on
Controlling Quds the city dawn to dawn,
But David’s throne in mystic beauty still
Stands with the hidden ruler and the thrill
Of Your sweet guidance and the divine will.
Find every Jebusite still in my heart
And throw him out to feel the stinging dart,
And let no such come in the stronghold of
My fortress, rather my cold chamber fill
With spirits that know only of Your love,
Whispering to the stones of flesh and art.

10 These are the heads of mighty men
Whom David had, who strengthened then
Themselves with him in his kingdom,
With all Israel, to make in sum
Him king, according to the word
Of YHWH about Israel inferred.
11 This is the register of men
Of courage David had again,
Jashobeam a Hachmonite,
The chief of captains in his sight,
With spear uplifted he attacked
Three hundred at a time unslacked
And killed all of them snicker-snacked.

There is a time and place, I warrant such,
Where giftedness in killing is the touch
To be praised and adored. The battlefield
Finds many on both teams who in the yield
Might be tooted for murders of the mealed.
There is a time and place, no doubt in mind,
Where killing is the greated talent find
To be had by the king and president.
Few harpists have the medals when they’re spent.
There is a rhyme and race for readers of
The saving of the many for their love
By slaying the armed with the iron and core
Of fallout on the last embattled shore.
Beloved, I mime and pace, but do no more.

12 And after him Eleazar
The son of Dodo and a star
Ahohite, of a trinity
Of men accounted all mighty.
13 With David at Pasdammim he
Was and there Philistines greatly
Gathered together for the fight,
Where a plot of ground at the site
Was full of barley, and the folk
Fled before the Philistine yoke.
14 They set themselves within that field
And saved it, killing to make yield
The Philistines, and YHWH saved there
By a great delivering’s share.

The barley field is always cheaper than
The wheaten flour to every hungry man.
And yet the barley field is worth a life
Or two struck down and fallen on the strife.
The life of the invader is so small
That half a pound of barley at the mall
Suffices to bring out the sword and call
And lay it low with barred and bloody knife.
Beloved, I eat with thanks the barely done
In flour and baked in over under sun,
And think no thought of who was beaten where,
And why the barley now’s become my share.
What use to those once fallen is the praise,
The wreaths, the honours, and the hallowed days?

15 Three of the thirty captains went
Down to the rock to David spent,
Into the cave of Adullam,
And the band of Philistine ham
Camped in valley of Rephaim.
16 And David was then in the hold,
While Philistine’s fort and all told
Were then at Bethlehem and bold.
17 And David longing spoke and sighed,
“If only one would give to drink
Of the water that’s on the side
Of Bethlehem and on the brink
Of the gate there where all men ride.”
18 And so the three broke through the band
Of Philistines to try their hand
At drawing water from the well
Of Bethlehem by citadel
Of the gate, took and brought to quell
The thirst of David, but David
Would not drink it, and what he did
Was pour it out to YHWH amid.
19 He said “May Ælohim forbid
Me doing such a thing as this,
Shall I drink blood with avarice
Of these men who risked life for whim?
For at the risk of lives and grim
They brought it. That’s why he would not
Drink it. These things three mighties wrought.

The story of the well of Bethlehem
May make the foolish heart with pride and hem
Rise and swell to think that the mighty men
So loved their leader they would die again
If such were possible. Such worthies then!
Surely it is no virtue to go round
And risk one’s life to satisfy the ground.
Moses could never have inspired as much.
He could not raise the loyal heart to touch
The rock with gratitude for water brought
When it was needed by the frankly sot.
Beloved, give me a clear eye beside heart,
A reason as well as doing my part
For the bare feeling of David and dart.

Beloved, I too pour out libation filled
With the resentment of Philistine willed
In history and fire upon the grilled
Fat flanks of sister of Yazid. I pray
A curse upon them all who see the day
And touch the blessèd of the Lord for pay.
David’s commandment was not just to show
The bravery of his stalwarts on the go.
It was a prophecy beneath the sky
And on the parched earth where we come to die
That there would be a time when faithful men
Would pour out water on the ground again
With every drought and exclaim at that breath
A curse upon Yazid, the man of death.

20 Abishai brother of Joab,
He was the chief of three for grab,
For lifting up his spear to slay
Three hundred, and slew them that way
And had his fame among the three.
21 Of the three he was than the two
More honourable, for he as due
Was their captain, but yet did not
Attain to the first three in plot.

The brother of Joab, for all his fame,
Raises hope that, despite his lesser show
In chronicles of the great in the know,
Need not seek every form of slighter claim.
I read the loving man beyond the name
To know his hopeful guise is but the glow
Around the portalled town stretched out to blow
So bright a star that none need pretend shame.
A cross or crown engulfs the god to lend
Taut hope on small sums that at last must be
Trinity of man and goddess to pass
Alone almighty through the mind to bend
In hope what shadows come about to see
Now in dark blasphemy the mirrored glass.

22 Benaiah Jehoiada’s son,
The son of a bold man in run
Of Kabzeel, who’d done many acts,
He killed two lion-men in pacts
With Moab, also he went down
And killed a lion of renown
In a pit on a snowy day,
And so he showed courageous way.

I find, Beloved, the snowy days increase
About my muffled ears and the lights cease
Upon the mornings and the evenings’ share.
I find the snow but never lions there.
The firs have long since marched out of the east
And touched the Finnish landscape with the priest
And censer on the icon of the world.
A bear perhaps but never lion curled.
The silence of the tree-, frost-covered hill
Provides hardly of sight of beast to kill,
And I am left with only my heart’s will
To overcome with snow and silence fill.
Beloved, let Moab be a memory
And my own frozen patch eternity.

23 He killed an Egyptian, a man
Of height five arm-lengths if a span,
And he attacked him with a staff,
And snatched the spear out with a laugh
From the Egyptian’s hand and then
With his own spear struck him again.
24 These things did Benaiah the son
Of Jehoiada and he won
Fame among the three mighties done.
25 See, he was honourable among
The thirty, but attained no rung
Among the first three, David set
Him over his guard, no regret.

I never plucked a spear out of the hand
Of any Egyptian under command.
But I have plucked a pen with coloured face
Of pharoah’s and the hieroglyphic trace
From seller in the hotel with the muse
That he should sell it as another choose
For less. I did not bear in mind that he
Had all the rent of the hotel in fee
To pay, while in the central market place
No doubt the overhead was greater grace.
Beloved, the heroism of my days
Is now the slightness of my words of praise,
Is now the hopeful watching of the sky
Where lately in the red clouds You pass by.

26 The bold men of the armies too,
Asahel, Joab’s brother due,
Elhanan the son of Dodo
Come up from Bethlehem to show.
27 Shammoth the Harorite, Helez
The Pelonite, Ira as says
The son of Ikkesh Tekoite,
Abiezer the Antothite,
29 Sibbecai who was Hushathite,
Ilai who was an Ahohite,
30 Maharai the Netophathite,
He led the son of Baanah too
A Netophathite come in view.
31 Ithai the son of Ribai of
Gibeah, which was of the love
Of Benjamin’s folk in the sight
Of Benaiah Pirathonite.

The brothers of Joab show up and fair
With all the heroes found and everywhere.
Then as now catered armies still provide
Careers by which the young men to abide
In memory bring up the sword and side.
The brothers of Joab, the one and two
Rise to their fame for brawn and fighting crew
Among the men of every claim and race
Brought in the council of David to trace.
I am no brother of Joab by right,
Nor Tekoite, Antothite, Hushathite,
Nor even Netophathite, yet I’m true
To David’s men, Beloved, as well as You,
To David’s men, Beloved, a motley brew.

32 Hurai of the brooks of Gaash and
Abiel the Arbathite grand,
33 Azmaveth the Baharumite,
Eliahba the Shaalbonite,
34 The sons of Hashem Gizonite,
Jonathan of Shage Hararite,
35 Ahiam son of Sacar too
Hararite, Eliphal in view
The son of Ur along with crew.
36 Hepher the Mecherathite too,
Ahija the Pelonite and
37 Hezro the Camelite on hand,
Naarai son of Ezbai to stand.
38 Joel the brother of Mathan,
Mibhar Haggeri’s son and man,
39 Zelek the Ammonite and yet
Naharai the Berothite’s bet,
The armourbearer of Joab,
The son of Zeruiah’s gab.

Hurai I guess has the same root in name
As the Qur’anic Houris have in fame,
And both tongues are ambiguous to blame,
Both trying with their whiteness to reclaim
Either the white grape or the cloth of game.
A nobleman the name would seem to ride
For white nobility on every tide,
Though Hurai comes from Gaash, a raging stream
If by its name it is what it would seem.
Beloved, my raging stream is torrent less
In summer and in winter’s white address,
But spring freshets fulfil the tidal wave,
And autumn rains belie the dawning grave.
And yet upon the bank I stop to guess.

40 Ira the Ithrite and Gareb
The Ithrite, 41 and the Johnny reb
Uriah the Hittite, Zabad
The son of Ahlai to be glad.
42 Adina the son of Shiza
The Reubenite, a captain’s paw
Of the Reubenites, and in a’
Thirty with him by hook and claw.
43 Hanan the son of Maachah and
Joshaphat Mithnite to stand,
44 Uzzia the Ashterathite,
Shama and Jehiel of might
The sons of Hothan Aroerite.
45 Jediael the son of Shimri,
And Joha his brother the free
Tizite. 47 Eliel the Mahavite,
Jeribai, Joshaviah,
The sons of Elnaam, and Ithmah
Who was after all Moabite.
47 Eliel, Obed, Jasiel
The Mesobaite bold and fell.

Uriah the Hittite was foreign man
Among the stalwarts of David in scan,
And three j’s top the mast as Moabites
To join with David in his many fights.
The nations gather one by one to greet
Your one anointed and fall at his feet,
And never is there such a sound so sweet
As harping in the ancient city’s street.
Beloved, I come to You in cities fair
Strung out like mist-grey pearls and everywhere
Touched by the finger of Your chosen one
That justice in the guard may aye be done.
Yet holiness is not seen by the eye,
Nor does the city rise up at the cry.

1 CHRONICLES 12

1 Now these are the ones that had come
To David in Ziklag for fun
While he was still far off from Saul
The son of Kish, one to appal.
And they were among mighty men,
Helpers in the war once again.
2 Armed with bows, they could use both right
And left hands in battle and fight
With stones and arrows from a bow,
Saul’s brothers from Benjamin’s row.
3 The chief was Ahiezer, then
Joash, Shemaah’s sons among men
Of Gibeah, and Jeziel,
And Pelet and the sons as well
Of Azmaveth, and Berachah,
And Jehu the Antothite’s paw.
4 And Ismaiah the Gibeonite,
A mighty man in thirty’s sight,
And over thirty, Jeremiah,
And Jahaziel, Johanan’s crier,
And Josabad Gederathite.
5 Eluzai and Jerimoth wight,
Bealiah and Shemariah,
The Haruphite called Shephatiah.
6 Elkanah, and Jesiah, and
Azareel, Joezer, and
Jashobeam, the Korahites.
7 And Joelah, and Zebadiah
Jeroham of Gedor’s sons’ wights.

Gedor, Ghadir, words sacred to the feat
Of marking of the pleasures and the treat
Of pastured and oasised plots of land
By walls of guardianship and of command,
Bring to the heart a rush of recognition.
My flight in Hebrew finds with no contrition
The wall shuts out with hopeful stone and bright.
My flight in Arabic’s another sight,
And one from the inside, where all is done
And what was hoped for on the road is won.
Beloved, I am no son of Gedor or
Ghadir, and yet I find that enclosed shore
Where life gleams green beyond the desert stone
And I find You at last upon Your throne.

8 And of the Gadites there were set
Apart for David to be met
In desert fortress, men of might,
And men of war fit for the fight,
To wield the shield and buckler, whose
Faces were lions’ ones to choose,
And fast as roes on mountain views.
9 Ezer the first, the second came
As Obadiah man of fame,
And Eliab the third in claim.
10 Mishmannah fourth, the fifth to come
Jeremiah, 11 Attai had won
Sixth place, the seventh Eliel,
12 Johanan eighth in Israel,
The ninth Elzabad, 13 tenth at last
To Jeremiah, no outcast,
Eleventh Machbanai, 14 These were
The sons of Gad, captains each fer
Of the army, one of the least
Was over a hundred, the beast
Of them over thousand increased.

Eleven men of fame in David’s court
Were sent to serve in first and last resort,
Victorious in everything they did,
And skilful with the sword, the shield and lid.
Eleven men, my faith, it’s generally
Twelve men that make the sacred company.
Are there not twelve imams to follow in
The path of David, though without the sin?
Beloved, I singly come, no skill to show,
No lovely voice, no weapon, and no glow,
But ready to fill the last place and be
A watchman at the door, a servant free
Until the number’s made, I take my place
In David’s foremost ranks before Your face.

15 These are the ones who went across
Jordan in the first month in toss
When it had overflowed its banks,
And they put to flight all in ranks
Of the valleys toward the east
And toward the west all foes increased.
16 There came of Benjamin’s folk and
Of Judah to David to stand.
17 And David went to meet them and
Answered and told them, “If you’ve come
In peace to me to help in sum,
My heart shall be knit unto you,
But if you come to me in view
Of your betrayal to my foes,
Since there is nothing wrong that grows
In my hand, our dads’ Ælohim
Look and rebuke what is unseem.”
18 So clothed the spirit Amasai,
Who was chief of the captains by,
“We’re yours, David, and on your side,
You son of Jesse, peace and pride,
Peace be to you and peace be to
Your helpers, for your God helps you.”
Accepted then David them and
Made them all captains of the band.

Beloved, I do not shirk my faith in You
When I make myself one of David’s crew.
I meet him on the Jordan’s stormy bank
And take the lowest terms in army rank.
Let others be the captains and stand tall.
My under six feet stretches at the wall.
And yet I say peace to the king in flood,
And walk the narrow passageway of blood
Beneath the gallows of the earthly mud.
I take the spirit of Amasai dear
And step out before I have time to fear
Upon the sinking planks with heart sincere.
Beloved, the son of Jesse is my guide
As I return returning to Your side.

19 And some of Manasseh came out
To David, when he came with shout
Of Philistine to fight with Saul,
But they did not help them at all,
Because the Philistine chiefs said
To send him packing, he’d be led,
They said, to help his former master
Saul to our loss of heads and faster.
20 As he went down to Ziklag’s town,
There came to him some of renown
Of Manasseh, Adnah and yet
Jozabad and Jediael set,
And Michael, Jozabad and more
Elihu and Zilthai the core
Captains of thousand of the fleet
Of Manasseh to be complete.
21 They helped David against the band,
For they were all great men to stand,
And army captains to command.
22 For at that time and day by day
There came folk into David’s way
To help him, till a great army
Was gathered such as God’s to see.

Prophetic is the coming of the men
In secret and so quietly in fen
That hardly anyone takes task or note
That David is now filling up his boat.
The great establishments meet in conflict,
The Philistine meet Saul with armies picked,
Just as the mosques and synagogues today
Join with the church a march into the fray.
Behind, above the din of constant war
There is a hidden band just at the door
With David, my sweet David, gone before.
Beloved, let me sing with David a song
As I join in the hidden, secret throng,
And so keep my soul from the seething wrong.

23 These are the numbers of the bands
Ready armed to the battle stands,
Come to David in Hebron for
To turn Saul’s kingdom to his door,
According to YHWH’s word, what’s more.
24 The sons of Judah wielding shield
And spear where six thousand to yield
And eight hundred and armed to fight.
25 Of Simeon’s children, men of might
And brave in battle, to the spread
Of seven thousand one hundred.
26 Of Levi’s sons four thousand and
Six hundred strong upon the land.
27 Jehoiada was leader to
The Aaronites, with him in view
Were three thousand seven hundred true.
28 And Zadok, a young man of might
And brave, and of his father’s right
With twenty-two captains in sight.
29 And of the sons of Benjamin,
The kin of Saul, three thousand kin,
For up to now the greater part
Had stayed with Saul’s house and Saul’s cart.
30 And of the sons of Ephraim
Twenty thousand and eight hundred,
Brave men of valour, might and dread,
Renowned throughout their fathers’ spread.
31 And of Manasseh’s half tribe sent
Eighteen thousand by name and lent
To come and make David king meant.
32 And of the sons of Issachar
Who understood the times and star
To know what Israel ought to do,
The chiefs of the numbered to two
Hundred, and all their brothers stood
To hear their commandment as should.
33 Of Zebulun, such as went out
To battle, fit in war and shout,
With weapons all, fifty thousand
Able to keep rank on the land,
Not double-hearted they but true.

Fifty thousand men all in rank go out
From little Zebulun, men frank and stout
And ready for the battle and the show.
It’s hard so many years after the go
To see the difference between this and that,
How this is not rebellion laid out flat.
To me it looks like treachery for gold
Or honour to send out anointed cold.
Perspective on events runs always true
To life, no matter when or where or who:
God’s with us and is never with the foe.
No man is ever wrong, it’s vertigo
Alone that makes the battlelines seem straight.
Let me go out to fight and not be late.

34 Of Naphtali a thousand chiefs,
And with them with shield and reliefs
Of spear thirty-seven thousand.
35 And of the Danites in the land
Expert in battle twenty grand
And eight thousand and six hundred.
36 And of Asher such as were led
Out to the fray, fit for the fight,
Forty thousand to come in sight.
37 And on the Jordan’s other side,
Of Reubenites and Gadites’ pride,
And half the tribe of Manasseh,
With weapons of all kinds in fray,
A hundred twenty thousand’s sway.
38 All these men of war who could keep
Rank came with a perfect heart to reap
Hebron and there make David king
Over all Israel, everything,
And all the rest of Israel too
Were of one mind to make the true
King David over all in view.
39 They stayed with David there three days,
Eating and drinking in their ways
What their brothers had fixed in praise.
40 Besides that those that lived nearby
In Issachar and on the high
Zebulun and in Naphtali,
Brought bread on donkeys, camels too,
On mules and oxen for the crew,
And food and flour and cakes of figs,
And bunches of raisins and swigs
Of grape juice and of oil and yet
Of oxen and sheep and well met,
For there was joy in Israel set.

Beloved, I am one that lives here nearby,
And so I bring my donkeys on the sly,
All laden down with bread and cakes of figs,
And food and flour not to throw out to pigs.
I come to make David my king and find
A better throne than the one at the grind
Of humanist and marketer well dined,
And priest and bishop dressed up out of mind.
I come to make David my king and see
A better throne than on the desert lea
Where oil springs up to fill the coffers with
Something more useful than their gold and myth.
Beloved, I come a donkey, camel spent
To find Your David reigning where he went.

AUTHOR: THOMAS G. MCELWAIN

Copyright © 2007 Adams & McElwain Publishers and Thomas McElwain First Published in two volumes, The Beloved and I 2005, and Led of the Beloved, 2006. Second Edition, 2010 Third and revised edition, 2012 All rights reserved. No part of this verse commentary on the sacred Scriptures may be reproduced, transmitted, or stored in a retrieval system, in any form or by any means, without permission in writing from publisher.

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