The Ark Brought from Kirjath Jearim^(A)

13 Then David consulted with the ^(B)captains of thousands and hundreds, and with every leader. ² And David said to all the assembly of Israel, “If it seems good to you, and if it is of the Lord our God, let us send out to our brethren everywhere who are ^(C)left in all the land of Israel, and with them to the priests and Levites who are in their cities and their common-lands, that they may gather together to us; ³ and let us bring the ark of our God back to us, ^(D)for we have not inquired at it since the days of Saul.” ⁴ Then all the assembly said that they would do so, for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people.

⁵ So ^(E)David gathered all Israel together, from ^(F)Shihor in Egypt to as far as the entrance of Hamath, to bring the ark of God ^(G)from Kirjath Jearim. ⁶ And David and all Israel went up to ^(H)Baalah,^[a] to Kirjath Jearim, which belonged to Judah, to bring up from there the ark of God the Lord, ^(I)who dwells between the cherubim, where His name is proclaimed. ⁷ So they ^[b]carried the ark of God ^(J)on a new cart ^(K)from the house of Abinadab, and Uzza and Ahio drove the cart. ⁸ Then ^(L)David and all Israel played music before God with all their might, with ^[c]singing, on harps, on stringed instruments, on tambourines, on cymbals, and with trumpets.

⁹ And when they came to ^[d]Chidon’s threshing floor, Uzza put out his hand to hold the ark, for the oxen ^[e]stumbled. ¹⁰ Then the anger of the Lord was aroused against Uzza, and He struck him ^(M)because he put his hand to the ark; and he ^(N)died there before God. ¹¹ And David became angry because of the Lord’s outbreak against Uzza; therefore that place is called ^[f]Perez Uzza to this day. ¹² David was afraid of God that day, saying, “How can I bring the ark of God to me?”

¹³ So David would not move the ark with him into the City of David, but took it aside into the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. ^14 (O)The ark of God remained with the family of Obed-Edom in his house three months. And the Lord blessed ^(P)the house of Obed-Edom and all that he had.

David Established at Jerusalem^(Q)

14 Now ^(R)Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, with masons and carpenters, to build him a house. ² So David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel, for his kingdom was ^(S)highly exalted for the sake of His people Israel.

³ Then David took more wives in Jerusalem, and David begot more sons and daughters. ⁴ And ^(T)these are the names of his children whom he had in Jerusalem: ^[g]Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, ⁵ Ibhar, ^[h]Elishua, ^[i]Elpelet, ⁶ Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, ⁷ Elishama, ^[j]Beeliada, and Eliphelet.

The Philistines Defeated^(U)

⁸ Now when the Philistines heard that ^(V)David had been anointed king over all Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. And David heard of it and went out against them. ⁹ Then the Philistines went and made a raid ^(W)on the Valley of ^[k]Rephaim. ¹⁰ And David ^(X)inquired of God, saying, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?”

The Lord said to him, “Go up, for I will deliver them into your hand.”

¹¹ So they went up to Baal Perazim, and David defeated them there. Then David said, “God has broken through my enemies by my hand like a breakthrough of water.” Therefore they called the name of that place ^[l]Baal Perazim. ¹² And when they left their gods there, David gave a commandment, and they were burned with fire.

^13 (Y)Then the Philistines once again made a raid on the valley. ¹⁴ Therefore David inquired again of God, and God said to him, “You shall not go up after them; circle around them, ^(Z)and come upon them in front of the mulberry trees. ¹⁵ And it shall be, when you hear a sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then you shall go out to battle, for God has gone out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.” ¹⁶ So David did as God commanded him, and they drove back the army of the Philistines from ^[m]Gibeon as far as Gezer. ¹⁷ Then ^(AA)the fame of David went out into all lands, and the Lord ^(AB)brought the fear of him upon all nations.

Yearning for God in the Midst of Distresses

To the Chief Musician. A ^[a]Contemplation of the sons of Korah.