David asked Elohim, “Should I attack the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?” Yahweh answered him, “Attack! I will hand them over to you.”

So David and his men attacked and defeated the Philistines at Baal Perazim. David said, “Using my power like an overwhelming flood, Elohim has overwhelmed my enemies.” That is why they call that place Baal Perazim [The Lord Overwhelms].

Once more David asked Elohim. Elohim answered him, “Don’t go after them. Circle around, and come at them in front of the balsam trees.

As you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then go out and fight because Elohim has gone ahead of you to defeat the Philistine army.”

David did as Elohim ordered him, and his men defeated the Philistine army from Gibeon to Gezer.

David Brings the Ark to Jerusalem

After David constructed buildings for himself in the City of David, he prepared a place for Elohim’s ark and set up a tent for it.

Then David insisted that only the Levites carry Elohim’s ark because Yahweh had chosen them to carry Yahweh’s ark and to serve him forever.

He said to them, “You are the heads of the Levite families. You and your relatives must perform the ceremonies to make yourselves holy. Then bring the ark of Yahweh Elohim of Israel to the place I prepared for it.

Because you weren’t there the first time, Yahweh our Elohim struck us. We hadn’t dedicated our lives to serving him in the way he designated.”

So the priests and the Levites made themselves holy in order to move the ark of Yahweh Elohim of Israel.

The Levites carried Elohim’s ark on their shoulders. They used poles as Moses had commanded according to Yahweh’s instructions.

The priests Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer blew trumpets in front of Elohim’s ark. Obed Edom and Jehiah were doorkeepers for the ark.

Because Elohim helped the Levites who carried the ark of Yahweh’s promise, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams.

The men carrying the ark set it inside the tent David had put up for it. They presented burnt offerings and fellowship offerings in Elohim’s presence.

The Levites Lead the Worship in Jerusalem

David appointed some Levites to serve in front of Yahweh’s ark by offering prayers, thanks, and praise to Yahweh Elohim of Israel.

The priests Benaiah and Jahaziel played trumpets all the time in front of the ark of Elohim’s promise.

“He is Yahweh our Elohim. His judgments are pronounced throughout the earth.

Say, ‘Rescue us, O Elohim our Savior. Gather us and save us from the nations so that we may give thanks to your holy name and make your praise our glory.’

Thanks be to Yahweh Elohim of Israel from everlasting to everlasting.” Then all the people said amen and praised Yahweh.

Nathan told David, “Do everything you have in mind, because Elohim is with you.”

But that same night Elohim spoke his word to Nathan:

Then King David went into the tent and sat in front of Yahweh. “Who am I, Yahweh Elohim,” he asked, “and why is my house so important that you have brought me this far?

And this you consider to be a small act, Elohim. You’ve spoken about the distant future of my house. Yahweh Elohim, you’ve shown me the generation of the great man.

Who is like your people Israel? It is the one nation on earth that Elohim came to free in order to make its people his own, to make your name known, and to do great and wonderful things for them. You forced the nations and their gods out of the way of your people, whom you freed from Egypt.

You made the people of Israel to be your people forever. And you, Yahweh, became their Elohim.