Meanwhile, David and all the house of Israel were celebrating before the Lord with all kinds of instruments made of juniper wood, and with lyres, harps, tambourines, castanets, and cymbals.

And the anger of the Lord burned against Uzzah, and God struck him down there for his irreverence; and he died there by the ark of God.

Then David became angry because of the Lord’s outburst against Uzzah; and that place has been called Perez-uzzah to this day.

So David was afraid of the Lord that day; and he said, “How can the ark of the Lord come to me?”

And David was unwilling to move the ark of the Lord into the city of David with him; but David took it aside to the house of Obed-edom, the Gittite.

The ark of the Lord remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite for three months, and the Lord blessed Obed-edom and all his household.

The Ark Is Brought to Jerusalem

Now it was reported to King David, saying, “The Lord has blessed the house of Obed-edom and all that belongs to him, on account of the ark of God.” So David went and brought the ark of God up from the house of Obed-edom to the city of David with joy.

And so it was, that when those carrying the ark of the Lord marched six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened steer.

And David was dancing before the Lord with all his strength, and David was wearing a linen ephod.

So David and all the house of Israel were bringing up the ark of the Lord with joyful shouting and the sound of the trumpet.

Then it happened, as the ark of the Lord was coming into the city of David, that Michal the daughter of Saul looked down through the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord; and she was contemptuous of him in her heart.

Now they brought in the ark of the Lord and set it in its place inside the tent which David had pitched for it; and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord.

When David had finished offering the burnt offering and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of armies.

But David said to Michal, “I was before the Lord, who preferred me to your father and to all his house, to appoint me as ruler over the people of the Lord, over Israel. So I will celebrate before the Lord!

David Plans to Build a Temple

Now it came about, when the king lived in his house, and the Lord had given him rest on every side from all his enemies,

Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your mind, for the Lord is with you.”

But in the same night, the word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying,

“Go and say to My servant David, ‘This is what the Lord says: “Should you build Me a house for My dwelling?

God’s Covenant with David

Now then, this is what you shall say to My servant David: ‘This is what the Lord of armies says: “I Myself took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be leader over My people Israel.

even from the day that I appointed judges over My people Israel; and I will give you rest from all your enemies. The Lord also declares to you that the Lord will make a house for you.

David’s Prayer

Then David the king came in and sat before the Lord, and he said, “Who am I, Lord God, and who are the members of my household, that You have brought me this far?

And yet this was insignificant in Your eyes, Lord God, for You have spoken also of the house of Your servant regarding the distant future. And this is the custom of mankind, Lord God.

Again what more can David say to You? For You know Your servant, Lord God!

For this reason You are great, Lord God; for there is no one like You, and there is no God except You, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

For You have established for Yourself Your people Israel as Your own people forever, and You, Lord, have become their God.