Beginning
Ark Enters Jerusalem
15 David built houses made for himself in the City of David; he then prepared a place for the Ark of God and pitched a tent for it. 2 Then David said, “No one should carry the Ark of God except the Levites, for Adonai has chosen them to carry the Ark of Adonai and to serve Him forever.” 3 David assembled all Israel at Jerusalem to bring the Ark of Adonai up to its place that he had prepared for it. 4 David gathered together the sons of Aaron and the Levites:
5 from the sons of Kohath:
Uriel the leader and 120 of his kinsmen;
6 from the sons of Merari:
Asaiah the leader and 220 of his kinsmen;
7 from the sons of Gershom:
Joel the leader with 130 of his kinsmen;
8 from the sons of Elizaphan:
Shemaiah the leader with 200 of his kinsmen;
9 from the sons of Hebron:
Eliel the leader with 80 of his kinsmen;
10 from the sons of Uzziel:
Amminadab the leader and 112 of his kinsmen.
11 David summoned Zadok and Abiathar the kohanim, along with the Levites, Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel and Amminadab. 12 He told them, “You are the heads of the Levitical families. Sanctify yourselves, you and your kinsmen, so that you may bring up the Ark of Adonai, the God of Israel, to the place that I have prepared for it. 13 Because you were not there the first time, Adonai our God burst out upon us, for we did not seek Him regarding the prescribed way.”
14 So the kohanim and the Levites sanctified themselves in order to bring up the Ark of Adonai, the God of Israel. 15 The Levites carried the Ark of God on their shoulders with poles, just as Moses commanded according to the word of Adonai.
16 David ordered the leaders of the Levites to appoint their kinsmen, the singers, with musical instruments, harps, lyres, and cymbals, to joyfully make their voices heard. 17 So the Levites appointed Heman son of Joel; from his brothers, Asaph son of Berechiah; from their brothers the descendants of Merari, Ethan son of Kushaiah; 18 and with them their relatives second in rank: Zechariah, Ben, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphalehu and Mikneiahu, and the gatekeepers Obed-edom and Jeiel.
19 The singers Heman, Asaph, and Ethan were to sound the bronze cymbals; 20 Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoh, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah and Benaiah were to play harps according to alamoth[a], 21 but Mattitiah, Eliphalehu, Mikneiah, Obed-edom, Jehiel and Azaziah were to lead with lyres, according to the sheminith[b]. 22 Chenaniah, leader of the Levites in music, was to direct the music because he was a master. 23 Berechiah and Elkanah were gatekeepers for the Ark. 24 The kohanim Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah and Eliezez were to blow the trumpets before the Ark of God. Obed-edom and Jehiah were gatekeepers for the Ark.
25 So David and the elders of Israel and the commanders of the thousands went to bring up the Ark of the Covenant of Adonai out of the house of Obed-edom with rejoicing. 26 Because God helped the Levites who were carrying the Ark of the Covenant of Adonai, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams. 27 Now David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, as were all the Levites who were carrying the Ark, and as were the singers and Henaniah the leader of the songs of the singers. David also wore a linen ephod. 28 Thus all Israel brought up the Ark of the Covenant of Adonai with shouting, with the sound of the shofar, trumpets and cymbals, and the playing of lyres and harps.
29 As the Ark of the Covenant of Adonai came to the City of David, Michal, Saul’s daughter, looked out the window. When she saw King David dancing and celebrating, she despised him in her heart.
Worship in David’s Tent
16 They brought the Ark of God and set it in the middle of the tent that David had pitched for it. Then they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before God. 2 After David finished offering the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the Name of Adonai. 3 He then distributed to everyone in Israel—man and woman alike—to each a loaf of bread, a date cake and a raisin cake.
4 He appointed some of the Levites as ministers before the Ark of Adonai, to petition, to thank and to praise Adonai, the God of Israel. 5 Asaph was the chief and second to him were Zechariah, Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-edom and Jehiel. They were to play harps and lyres; Asaph was to sound the cymbals, 6 and the kohanim Benaiah and Jahaziel were to blow trumpets continually before the Ark of the Covenant of God.
7 On that day David first appointed Asaph and his kinsmen to give thanks to Adonai:
8 Give thanks to Adonai,
call upon His Name.
Make His deeds known
among the peoples.
9 Sing to Him! Sing praises to Him!
Tell of all His wonderful acts.
10 Glory in His holy Name!
Let the heart of those who seek Adonai rejoice.
11 Seek Adonai and His strength.
Seek His face always.
12 Remember the wonders He has done,
His signs and judgments of His mouth,
13 O descendants of Israel His servant,
O sons of Jacob, His chosen ones!
14 He is Adonai our God;
His judgments are in all the earth.
15 Remember His covenant forever,
the word that He commanded for a thousand generations—
16 that He made with Abraham,
swore to Isaac,
17 and confirmed in a decree with Jacob
to Israel as an everlasting covenant,
18 saying: “To you I give the land of Canaan
as your allotted inheritance.”
19 When you were but a few in number,
very few, and strangers in it,
20 and wandered from nation to nation,
from one kingdom to another,
21 He allowed no one to oppress them,
but for their sake He reproved kings:
22 “Touch not My anointed ones,
and do My prophets no harm.”
23 Sing to Adonai, all the earth!
Proclaim His salvation from day to day.
24 Declare His glory among the nations,
His wonderous works among all the peoples.
25 For great is Adonai and greatly to be praised.
He is to be feared above all gods.
26 For all the gods of the peoples are idols,
but Adonai made the heavens.
27 Splendor and majesty are before Him;
strength and joy are in His place.
28 Ascribe to Adonai, O families of the peoples,
ascribe to Adonai glory and strength.
29 Ascribe to Adonai the glory due to His Name.
Bring an offering and come before Him.
Worship Adonai in the splendor of holiness.
30 Tremble before Him, all the earth!
The world is firmly established—it will not be moved.
31 Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!
Let them say among the nations: “Adonai reigns!”
32 Let the sea roar and all that is in it.
Let the field rejoice and all that is in it.
33 Then the trees of the forest will sing for joy before Adonai,
for He comes to judge the earth.
34 Give thanks to Adonai for He is good,
for His mercy endures forever.
35 Declare, “Save us, O God of our salvation!
Gather and rescue us from the nations,
that we may give thanks to Your holy Name,
that we may glory in Your praise.”
36 Blessed be Adonai, the God of Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting.
Then all the people said “Amen,” and “Praise Adonai.”
37 So David left Asaph and his kinsmen there before the Ark of the Covenant of Adonai, to minister before the Ark continually, according to each day’s requirements, 38 including Obed-edom and his 68 kinsmen. Obed-edom son of Jeduthun and Hosah were gatekeepers. 39 Also he left Zadok the kohen and his fellow kohanim before the Tabernacle of Adonai in the high place that was at Gibeon 40 to offer burnt offerings to Adonai on the altar of burnt offering, regularly morning and evening, according to all that is written in the Torah of Adonai that He commanded Israel. 41 Along with them were Heman and Jeduthun and the rest who were chosen, designated by name to give thanks to Adonai—for His mercy endures forever. 42 Heman and Jeduthun had trumpets and cymbals for music and other instruments for praising God. The sons of Jeduthun were to be at the gate.
43 Then all the people departed each one to his home, and David returned to bless his household.
Covenant Promise to David
17 After David settled in his place, David said to Nathan the prophet, “Look! I am living in a house of cedar, while the Ark of the Covenant of Adonai is under a tent.”
2 Then Nathan said to David, “Do all that is in your heart, for God is with you.”
3 But that same night the word of God came to Nathan, saying: 4 “Go and tell David My servant, thus says Adonai, ‘You are not to build Me a house in which to dwell. 5 For I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought Israel out to this day. I have gone from tent to tent, and from one dwelling to another. 6 Wherever I went throughout all Israel, did I ever speak a word to any of the judges of Israel whom I commanded to shepherd My people, saying, “Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?”’
7 “So now, say this to My servant David, ‘Thus says Adonai Tzva’ot, I took you from the pasture and from following the sheep, to be prince over My people Israel. 8 I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you. I will make your name like the names of the great ones that are in the earth. 9 I wil establish a place for My people Israel, and plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place and shall tremble no more. Violent people will no longer wear them down, as they did formerly, 10 from the days I ordered judges to be over My people Israel. I will subdue all your enemies.’
“‘Moreover, I declare to you that Adonai will build you a house. 11 It will be that when your days are fulfilled to go with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom. 12 He will build a house for Me and I will establish his throne forever. 13 I will be a father to him and he will be a son to Me,[c] I will not withdraw My lovingkindness from him, as I withdrew it from the one who ruled before you. 14 I will appoint him over My House and My kingdom forever, and his throne will be established forever.’”
15 According to all these words and according to all this vision, Nathan spoke to David.
16 Then King David went in and sat before Adonai, and said, “Who am I, Adonai Elohim, and what is my family, that You have brought me thus far? 17 And this was not enough in Your eyes, O God! You have spoken about the future of Your servant’s household. You have regarded me as the most distinquished of men, Adonai Elohim.
18 “What more can David say to You for honoring Your servant? For You know Your servant. 19 Adonai, for the sake of Your servant and according to Your own heart, You have done all these great things, to reveal all Your greatness.
20 “Adonai, there is none like You and there is no other god besides You, as we have heard with our own ears. 21 And who is like Your people Israel—the one nation on earth whom God went out to redeem as a people for Himself and to make a Name for Yourself by great and awesome deeds, by driving out nations from before Your people, whom You redeemed from Egypt? 22 You made Your people Israel Your own people forever, and You, Adonai, became their God.
23 “Now, Adonai, may the word that You have spoken concerning Your servant and his house be confirmed forever. Do as You have spoken 24 so that it might be established and Your Name might be magnified forever, saying, ‘Adonai-Tzva’ot, the God of Israel, is Israel’s God.’ Then the house of David Your servant will be established before You.
25 “You, my God, have revealed to Your servant that You will build a house for him. So Your servant has found courage to pray before You. 26 Now, Adonai, You are God! You have promised this good thing to Your servant. 27 Now You are willing to bless the house of Your servant, so that it may continue forever before You, for it is You, Adonai who have blessed, and it is blessed forever!”
Tree of Life (TLV) Translation of the Bible. Copyright © 2015 by The Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society.