Beginning
The Ark Is Brought to Jerusalem(A)
15 David built ·houses [buildings] for himself in the City of David [C Jerusalem]. Then he prepared a place for the Ark of God, and he set up a tent for it. 2 David said, “Only the Levites may carry the Ark of God. The Lord chose them to carry the Ark of the Lord and to ·serve [minister to/for] him forever.”
3 David ·called [summoned; assembled] all the people of Israel to come to Jerusalem. He wanted to bring the Ark of the Lord to the place he had ·made [prepared] for it. 4 David called together the descendants of Aaron and the Levites. 5 There were one hundred twenty ·people from [L sons of] Kohath’s ·family group [clan], with Uriel as their ·leader [chief]. 6 There were two hundred twenty ·people from [L sons of] Merari’s ·family group [clan], with Asaiah as their ·leader [chief]. 7 There were one hundred thirty ·people from [L sons of] ·Gershon’s [or Gersom’s; 6:1] ·family group [clan], with Joel as their ·leader [chief]. 8 There were two hundred ·people from [L sons of] Elizaphan’s ·family group [clan], with Shemaiah as their ·leader [chief]. 9 There were eighty ·people from [L sons of] Hebron’s ·family group [clan], with Eliel as their ·leader [chief]. 10 And there were one hundred twelve ·people from [L sons of] Uzziel’s ·family group [clan], with Amminadab as their ·leader [chief].
11 Then David ·asked [called for; summoned] the priests Zadok and Abiathar and these Levites to come to him: Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab. 12 David said to them, “You are the leaders of the ·families [clans] of Levi. You and the other Levites must ·give yourselves for service [consecrate/purify/sanctify yourselves] to the Lord, so that you can bring up the Ark of the Lord, the God of Israel, to the place I have ·made [prepared] for it. 13 The first time we did not ask the Lord ·how [the proper/lawful way] to carry it. You Levites didn’t carry it, so the Lord our God ·punished [L burst/broke out against] us.”
14 Then the priests and Levites ·prepared themselves for service to the Lord [consecrated/purified/sanctified themselves] so they could ·carry [bring up] the Ark of the Lord, the God of Israel. 15 The Levites used special poles to carry the Ark of God on their shoulders, as Moses had ·commanded [ordered; instructed], ·just as the Lord had said they should [L according to the word of the Lord].
16 David ·told [commanded; ordered] the ·leaders [chiefs] of the Levites to appoint their ·relatives [kinsmen; L brothers] as ·singers [musicians] to play their lyres, harps, and cymbals and to ·sing happy songs [play/sing joyfully].
17 So the Levites appointed Heman and his ·relatives [kinsmen; L brothers] Asaph and Ethan. Heman was Joel’s son. Asaph was Berekiah’s son. And Ethan, from the Merari ·family group [clan], was Kushaiah’s son. 18 There was also a second ·group [rank; C possibly assistants] of Levites: Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, and Jeiel. They were the Levite ·guards [gatekeepers].
19 The ·singers [musicians] Heman, Asaph, and Ethan played bronze cymbals. 20 Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah played ·the lyres [harps] according to alamoth [C possibly indicating to be sung by a soprano; Ps. 46:title]. 21 Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah played the ·harps [lyres] according to ·sheminith [L eighth; C a reference to an eight-stringed instrument or perhaps to the manner of singing; Ps. 12:title; Ps. 16:title]. 22 The Levite leader Kenaniah was in charge of the singing, because he was ·very good at it [highly skilled; very knowledgeable].
23 Berekiah and Elkanah were two of the ·guards [gatekeepers] for the Ark. 24 The priests Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer had the job of blowing trumpets ·in front of [before] the Ark of God. Obed-Edom and Jehiah were also ·guards [gatekeepers] for the Ark.
25 David, the ·leaders [elders] of Israel, and the ·commanders [captains] of a thousand soldiers went to ·get [bring up] the Ark of the ·Agreement [Treaty; Covenant] with the Lord. They all went to bring the Ark from Obed-Edom’s house with great ·joy [celebration]. 26 Because God helped the Levites who carried the Ark of the ·Agreement [Testimony; Treaty; Covenant] with the Lord, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven ·male sheep [rams]. 27 All the Levites who carried the Ark, and Kenaniah, the man in charge of the singing, and all the singers wore robes of fine linen. David also wore a robe of fine linen and a ·holy vest of fine linen [L ephod; Ex. 28:6–14]. 28 So all the people of Israel brought up the Ark of the ·Agreement [Testimony; Treaty; Covenant] with the Lord. They shouted, blew horns and trumpets, and played cymbals, lyres, and harps.
29 As the Ark of the ·Agreement [Testimony; Treaty; Covenant] with the Lord entered the City of David [C Jerusalem], Saul’s daughter Michal watched from a window. When she saw King David ·dancing [leaping] and celebrating, she hated him in her heart.
16 They brought the Ark of God and put it ·inside [in the middle of] the tent that David had set up for it. Then they offered burnt offerings [Lev. 1:1–17] and ·fellowship [or peace; well-being] offerings [Lev. 3:1] to God. 2 When David had finished ·giving [sacrificing; offering] the burnt offerings [Lev. 1:1–17] and ·fellowship [or peace; well-being] offerings [Lev. 3:1], he blessed the people in the name of the Lord. 3 He gave a loaf of bread, some ·dates [or meat], and raisins to every Israelite man and woman.
The Ministry of the Levites(B)
4 Then David appointed some of the Levites to ·serve [minister] before the Ark of the Lord. They had the job of ·leading the worship [celebrating; extolling; invoking; offering prayers] and giving thanks and praising the Lord, the God of Israel. 5 Asaph, who played the cymbals, was the ·leader [chief]. Zechariah was second to him. The other Levites were Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-Edom, and Jeiel. They played the lyres and harps. 6 Benaiah and Jahaziel were priests who ·blew [played] the trumpets regularly before the Ark of the ·Agreement [Testimony; Treaty; Covenant] ·with [of] God. 7 That day David first ·gave [assigned; appointed] Asaph and his ·relatives [kinsmen; L brothers] ·the job of singing praises [this song of thanksgiving; vv. 8–22 correspond to Ps. 105:1–15] to the Lord.
David’s Song of Thanks
8 Give thanks to the Lord and ·pray to him [L call upon his name].
·Tell [Make known among; Proclaim to] the ·nations [world; peoples] ·what he has done [his deeds/accomplishments].
9 Sing to him; ·sing praises [make music] to him.
Tell about all his ·miracles [wonders; wonderful acts/works].
10 ·Be glad that you are his [Glory/Exult/Take pride in his holy name];
let the hearts of those who seek the Lord ·be happy [rejoice].
11 ·Depend on [Search for] the Lord and his strength;
·always go to him for help [seek his presence/L face continually].
12 Remember the ·miracles [wonders; wonderful acts/works] he has ·done [performed],
his ·marvels [miracles; mighty acts], and his ·decisions [judgments he pronounced/L from his mouth].
13 You are the ·descendants [L seed] of his servant, Israel;
you are the ·children [L sons] of Jacob, his chosen ·people [L ones].
14 He is the Lord our God.
His ·laws [judgments; justice] are ·for [or in; throughout] all the ·world [earth; land].
15 ·He will keep [or Remember] his ·agreement [treaty; covenant] forever;
·he will keep his promises always [the commitment/promise/word he made/commanded for a thousand generations].
16 He will keep the ·agreement [covenant; treaty] he made with Abraham
and the ·promise he made [oath/vow he swore] to Isaac.
17 He made it a law ·for the people of [to] Jacob;
he made it an ·agreement [treaty; covenant] with Israel to last forever.
18 He said, “I will give the land of Canaan to you,
·to belong to you [as the portion you will inherit].”
19 Then God’s people were few in number, very few,
and they were strangers in the land.
20 They ·went [wandered] from one nation to another,
from one kingdom to another.
21 But he did not let anyone ·hurt [oppress] them;
he ·warned kings not to harm them [rebuked/admonished kings].
22 He said, “Don’t touch my ·chosen people [L anointed ones],
and don’t harm my prophets.”
23 Sing to the Lord, all the earth.
Every day ·tell [proclaim] ·how he saves us [his salvation].
24 ·Tell [Declare to] the nations about his glory [C his manifest presence];
tell all ·peoples [the nations] the ·miracles [wonders; wonderful acts/works] he does.
25 The Lord is great; ·he should be praised [most worthy of praise; T and greatly to be praised].
He should be ·respected more than [feared above] all gods.
26 All the gods of the ·nations [peoples] are only idols,
but the Lord made the ·skies [heavens].
27 ·He has glory and majesty [Splendor/Honor and majesty surround/L are before him];
·he has power and joy in [strength and joy are in/fill] his ·Temple [L place].
28 ·Praise [Recognize; Give what’s due to; T Ascribe to] the Lord, all nations on earth.
·Praise [Recognize; Give what’s due to; T Ascribe to] the Lord’s glory and ·power [strength];
29 ·praise [recognize; give what’s due to; T ascribe to] the glory of the Lord’s name.
Bring an offering and come ·to him [before him; into his presence].
Worship the Lord ·because he is holy [in his holy splendor].
30 Tremble before him, ·everyone on [all the] earth.
The earth is ·set [firmly established], and it cannot be moved.
31 Let the ·skies [heavens] rejoice and the earth be glad.
Let ·people [the nations] everywhere say, “The Lord ·is king [reigns]!”
32 Let the sea and everything in it ·shout [roar; thunder];
let the fields and everything in them ·rejoice [exult; celebrate; be jubilant].
33 Then the trees of the forest will ·sing [shout; cry out]
for joy before the Lord.
·They will sing because [For] he is coming to judge the ·world [earth].
34 Thank the Lord because he is good.
His ·love [steadfast love; lovingkindness] ·continues [endures] forever.
35 Say to him, “Save us, God ·our Savior [of our salvation],
and ·bring us back and save [gather and rescue] us from ·other [the] nations.
Then we will thank ·you [your holy name]
and ·will gladly praise you [glory in your praise].”
36 ·Praise [Blessed be] the Lord, the God of Israel.
·He always was and always will be [… from everlasting to everlasting].
All the people said “Amen” and praised the Lord.
37 Then David left Asaph and ·the other Levites [his relatives/kinsmen/L brothers] there ·in front of [before] the Ark of the ·Agreement [Testimony; Treaty; Covenant] ·with [of] the Lord. They were to ·serve [minister] there ·every day [as each day’s work required]. 38 David also left Obed-Edom and sixty-eight ·other Levites [relatives; kinsmen; L brothers] to serve with them. Hosah and Obed-Edom son of Jeduthun were ·guards [gatekeepers].
39 David left Zadok the priest and ·the other priests who served with him in front of [his relatives/kinsmen/L brothers before] the ·Tent [Tabernacle] of the Lord at the ·place of worship [L high place] in Gibeon. 40 Every morning and evening they offered burnt offerings [Lev. 1:1–17] to the Lord on the altar of burnt offerings, ·following [according to] ·the rules written in the Teachings [L everything written in the Law] of the Lord, which he had ·given [commanded] Israel. 41 With them were Heman and Jeduthun and the rest chosen by name to ·sing praises [give thanks] to the Lord because his ·love [steadfast love; lovingkindness] ·continues [endures] forever. 42 Heman and Jeduthun ·also had the job of playing the [or had with them] trumpets and cymbals and other musical instruments ·when songs were sung to God [for sacred songs]. Jeduthun’s sons guarded the gates.
43 Then all the people left for their homes, and David also went home to bless ·the people in his home [his household].
God’s Promise to David(C)
17 When David ·moved [had settled] into his ·palace [L house], he said to Nathan the prophet, “·Look [T Behold], I am living in a ·palace [L house] made of cedar, but the Ark of the ·Agreement [Testimony; Treaty; Covenant] with the Lord ·sits in [is under] a tent.”
2 Nathan said to David, “Do ·what you want to do [whatever you have in mind], because God is with you.”
3 But that night God spoke his word to Nathan, saying, 4 “Go and tell David my servant, ‘·This is what the Lord says [T Thus says the Lord]: You are not the person to build a house for me to live in. 5 From the time I brought Israel ·out of [L up from] Egypt until now I have not lived in a house. I have moved from one tent site to another and ·from one place to another [or lived in a Tabernacle]. 6 As I have ·moved [walked] with the Israelites to different places, ·I have never [L have I ever…?] said to the ·leaders [L judges of Israel], whom I commanded to ·take care of [shepherd] my people, “Why haven’t you built me a house of cedar?” ’
7 “Now, tell my servant David: ‘This is what the Lord ·All-Powerful [of Heaven’s Armies; T of hosts] says: I took you from the pasture and from ·tending [following] the sheep and made you ·king [ruler; leader] of my people Israel. 8 I have been with you everywhere you have gone. I have ·defeated [destroyed; L cut off] your enemies for you. I will make you ·as famous as any of [L a name like the name of] the great people on the earth. 9 I will ·choose [provide; appoint] a place for my people Israel, and I will plant them so they can live in their own homes. They will not be ·bothered [disturbed; moved] anymore. ·Wicked [Evil] people will no longer ·hurt [oppress] them as they have in the past 10 ·when I chose [beginning when I appointed] judges for my people Israel. I will ·defeat [subdue] all your enemies.
“‘I tell you that the Lord will ·make your descendants kings of Israel after [L build a house for] you. 11 When ·you die [your days are over/T fulfilled] and join your ·ancestors [fathers], I will ·make [L raise up] one of your descendants—one of your sons [C Solomon]—the new king, and I will ·set up [establish; secure] his kingdom. 12 He will build a house [C the Temple] for me, and I will ·let his kingdom rule always [establish/secure his throne forever]. 13 I will be his father, and he will be my son [2 Sam. 7:14; Ps. 2:7]. I took away my ·love [steadfast love; lovingkindness] from Saul, who ruled before you, but I will never ·stop loving your son [take it away from him]. 14 I will ·put him in charge of [confirm him in] my house and kingdom forever. His ·family [L throne] will ·rule [be established/secure] forever.’”
15 Nathan told David ·everything God had said in this vision [all the words revealed to him].
David Prays to God
16 Then King David went in and sat ·in front of [before] the Lord. David said, “Lord God, who am I? What is my ·family [L house] that you have brought me ·to this point [this far]? 17 But that was ·not enough for you [L a small thing in your eyes], God. You have ·also made promises about my future family [spoken about your servant’s house in the distant future]. Lord God, you have treated me like a ·very important [great; exalted] person.
18 “What more can ·I [L David] say to you for honoring me, your servant? You know me so well. 19 Lord, you have done this wonderful thing for ·my [L your servant’s] sake ·and because you wanted to [according to your will/heart]. You have done all these great things and made them known.
20 “There is ·no one [T none] like you, Lord. There is no God except you. ·We have heard all this ourselves […as all that we’ve heard with our own ears confirms]! 21 ·There is no nation [L And is there another nation…?] like your people Israel. ·They are the only people on earth that [L What other nation on earth did…?] God chose to be his own. You made ·your name well known [a name for yourself] by the great and ·wonderful [awesome; terrible] things you did for them. You went ahead of them and ·forced other [drove out] nations. You ·freed [redeemed] your people from slavery in Egypt. 22 You made the people of Israel your very own people forever, and, Lord, you ·are [became; have become] their God.
23 “Lord, ·keep the promise [L let the word be established/secure] forever that you ·made [spoke] about my ·family [L house] and me, your servant. Do what you have ·said [spoken]. 24 ·Then you will be honored always [May your name be established and honored/exalted/magnified forever], and people will say, ‘The Lord ·All-Powerful [of Heaven’s Armies; T of hosts], the God over Israel, is Israel’s God!’ And the ·family [L house] of your servant David will ·continue [be established/secure] before you.
25 “My God, you have told me that you ·would make my family great [L build for your servant a house]. So I, your servant, ·am brave enough [have found courage] to pray to you. 26 Lord, you are God, and you have promised these good things to me, your servant. 27 ·You have chosen [It has pleased you] to bless my ·family [L house]. Let it continue before you always. Lord, you have blessed ·my family [L it], ·so it will [let it] ·always [forever] be blessed.”
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