Chronological
11 Later, King Hiram of Tyre sent a delegation to David, accompanied by cedar[a] logs, carpenters, and stone masons. They built a palace for David. 12 So David concluded[b] that the Lord had established him as king over Israel and that he had exalted his kingdom in order to benefit his people Israel. 13 But after arriving in Jerusalem after leaving Hebron, David took more wives and mistresses,[c] and more sons and daughters were born to David. 14 These are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, 15 Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, 16 Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.
David Battles the Philistines(A)
17 When the Philistines eventually learned that Israel[d] had anointed David to be king over Israel, they marched out in search of him.[e] But David heard about it and retreated to his stronghold. 18 Meanwhile, the Philistines arrived and encamped in the Rephaim Valley, 19 so David asked the Lord, “Am I to go attack the Philistines? Will you give me victory over them?”[f]
“Go get them,” the Lord replied to David, “because I’m going to put the Philistines right into your hand!”
20 So David went to Baal-perazim and defeated them there. He called the place Baal-perazim,[g] because he said, “Like a bursting flood, the Lord has jumped out in front of me to fight my enemies.” 21 The Philistines abandoned their idols there, and David and his army carried them off.
22 Later, the Philistines once again marched out and encamped in the Rephaim Valley. 23 When David asked the Lord about it, he said, “Don’t attack them directly. Instead, go around to the rear and attack them opposite those balsam trees. 24 When you hear the sound of marching coming from the tops of the balsam trees, then be sure to act quickly, since the Lord will have gone out ahead of you to cut down the Philistine army.” 25 So David did exactly what the Lord ordered him to do, and he struck down the Philistines from Geba to Gezer.
Troubles in Mishandling the Ark(B)
6 After this, David gathered together again 30,000 men from all of the choicest men of Israel. 2 Then David and all the people with him set out from Baal-judah to bring up from there the Ark of God, who is called the Name, the name of the Lord of the Heavenly Armies, and who is enthroned on the cherubim. 3 They mounted the Ark of God on a new cart and brought it from Abinadab’s home in Gibeah,[h] with Abinadab’s sons Uzzah and Ahio[i] driving the new cart. 4 As they left Abinadab’s house in Gibeah accompanied by the Ark of God, Ahio was walking ahead of the ark. 5 David and the entire assembly[j] of Israel were dancing in the presence of the Lord with all of their strength, accompanied by all sorts of wood instruments,[k] harps, tambourines, castanets, and cymbals.
6 When they arrived at Nacon’s threshing floor, Uzzah reached out and grabbed the Ark of God because the oxen had stumbled. 7 Just then, the anger of the Lord blazed against Uzzah, and God struck him down right there because of his failure, and he died there beside the Ark of God.
8 David flew into a rage because the Lord had killed[l] Uzzah. That’s why that place is called Perez-uzzah[m] to this day. 9 But David feared the Lord that day, and asked, “How can the Ark of God come to me?” 10 As a result, David was unwilling to take the ark of the Lord into his care in the City of David. Instead, David left it at the home of Obed-edom the Gittite. 11 So the ark of the Lord remained for three months in the household of Obed-edom the Gittite while the Lord blessed Obed-edom and his entire household.
12 Later on, David was informed, “The Lord has blessed the home of Obed-edom and everything he has since he’s in possession[n] of the Ark of God.” So David went out joyfully and brought up the Ark of God to the City of David from Obed-edom’s home. 13 After those who were carrying the ark of the Lord had taken six steps, he sacrificed oxen and fattened animals, 14 dancing in front of the Lord with all of his strength and wearing a linen ephod. 15 So David and the entire assembly[o] of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting and trumpet blasts.
David’s Wife Michal Disrespects David’s Worship
16 As the ark of the Lord was coming into the City of David, Saul’s daughter Michal was peering out a window, watching King David jumping and dancing in the Lord’s presence, and she despised him in her heart. 17 They brought in the ark of the Lord, set it in place inside the tent that David had erected for it, and David sacrificed burnt offerings and peace offerings in the presence of the Lord.
18 After David had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of the Heavenly Armies 19 and distributed to all the people—the entire multitude of Israel, including both men and women—a cake made of bread, one made of dates, and one made of raisins to each one. Then all the people left, each headed for home.
20 When David returned to bless his household, Saul’s daughter Michal came out to meet him and called out, “How the king of Israel honored himself today by undressing himself right in front of his women staff members, just like any pervert[p] would dare to expose himself!”
21 But David replied to Michal, “It was in front of the Lord, who appointed me to replace your father and his entire household by selecting me as Commander-in-Chief[q] over Israel, the people of the Lord, that I danced in front of the Lord. 22 I’m going to act more shamelessly than this, even to humbling myself in my own eyes. Now as to the women staff members about whom you have spoken, they are to hold me in honor!” 23 And Saul’s daughter Michal bore no children from that day on until the day she died.
The Ark is Moved from Kiriath-jearim(A)
13 Later, David conferred with every officer[a] in charge of groups of thousands and groups of[b] hundreds. 2 Then he[c] addressed the entire community of Israel, “If it seems good to you and something from the Lord our God, let’s spread word to all of our relatives who remain throughout the entire land of Israel, including the priests and descendants of Levi in the cities and pasture lands, so they can gather together with us. 3 Then let’s bring the Ark of God back to us, because we didn’t consult it during Saul’s reign.”[d] 4 The entire community consented, because doing so pleased all the people. 5 So David assembled all of Israel—from the Shihor River of Egypt to Lebo-hamath—in order to bring the Ark of God from Kiriath-jearim.
6 David, accompanied by all of Israel, went up to Baalah (the former name of Kiriath-jearim), which belonged to Judah, to bring from there the Ark of God, the Lord, who sits enthroned on the cherubim, and who is called the Name.[e] 7 They mounted the Ark of God on a new cart, bringing it from Abinadab’s home, with Uzzah and Ahio driving the cart. 8 David and all of Israel were dancing in the presence of God with all of their[f] might with songs,[g] harps, tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets. 9 As they approached Chidon’s threshing floor, Uzzah put out his hand to steady the ark, because the oxen had stumbled. 10 Just then, the anger of the Lord blazed against Uzzah, and he struck him down because he had put his hand on the ark, and he died right there in the presence of God.
11 David flew into a rage because the Lord had killed[h] Uzzah. As a result, that place was called Perez-uzzah[i] to this day. 12 But David feared God that day, and asked “How am I to bring the Ark of God to me?” 13 As a result, David would not take the ark into the City of David for it to be in his care. Instead, he took it to the home of Obed-edom the Gittite. 14 So the Ark of God remained in the care of Obed-edom’s household for three months, and God blessed Obed-edom’s household, along with everyone associated with it.
David Settles in Jerusalem(B)
14 After this, King Hiram of Tyre sent a delegation to David, accompanied by cedar[j] logs, stone masons, and wood workers, to construct a palace for him. 2 David realized that the Lord was affirming him as king over Israel, and that his government was being exalted in order to benefit his people Israel. 3 But while he was living in Jerusalem, David married more wives and fathered more sons and daughters. 4 Here’s a list of the children whom he fathered while in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, 5 Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet, 6 Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, 7 Elishama, Beeliada, and Eliphelet.
David Defeats the Philistines(C)
8 When the Philistines learned that David had been anointed king over all of Israel, all of the Philistines invaded to look for David. David heard about it and went out to fight them. 9 Meanwhile, the Philistines had invaded and raided the Rephaim Valley. 10 So David asked God, “Am I to go out against the Philistines? Will you give me victory over them?”[k]
“Go out,” the Lord replied to him, “and I’ll put them right into your hand.”
11 So David[l] went out to Baal-perazim and defeated the Philistines[m] there. David observed, “Like an overwhelming flood, God has overwhelmed[n] my enemies, using me to do it.”[o] That’s why that place is called Baal-perazim.[p] 12 The Philistines[q] abandoned their gods there, so David ordered that their idols be incinerated.
13 Later the Philistines invaded the Rephaim[r] Valley again. 14 When David asked God about it, God told him, “Don’t directly attack them. Instead, go around them and come up against them opposite those balsam trees. 15 When you hear the sound of marching coming from the tops of the balsam trees, then go out to battle, because God will have gone out ahead of you to destroy the Philistine army.” 16 So David did just as God had ordered, and they struck down the Philistine army from Gibeon to Gezer. 17 Then David’s reputation spread through all of the neighboring countries,[s] and the Lord caused all nations[t] to be afraid of David.
A Place for the Ark is Prepared(D)
15 David built palaces for himself in the City of David, and he prepared a place for the Ark of God and erected a tent for it. 2 Then David ordered that the Ark of God was to be carried by no one except the descendants of Levi, because the Lord had chosen them to carry the ark of the Lord and to serve him forever. 3 David assembled all of Israel in Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the Lord to its proper place that he had prepared for it.
Ministry Appointments
4 David also assembled the descendants of Aaron, who were descendants of Levi, 5 including[u] Uriel their leader from the descendants of Kohath, along with 120 of his relatives, 6 from the descendants of Merari, Asaiah their leader, along with 220 of his relatives, 7 from the descendants of Gershom, Joel their chief, along with 130 of his relatives, 8 from the descendants of Elizaphan, Shemaiah their leader, along with 200 of his relatives, 9 from Hebron’s descendants, Eliel their leader, along with 80 of his relatives, 10 and from Uzziel’s descendants, Amminadab their leader, along with 112 of his relatives.
11 Then David summoned the priests Zadok and Abiathar, along with the descendants of Levi Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab 12 and addressed them: “As leaders of your Levitical families, set yourselves apart, both you and your relatives, so you can be qualified to[v] bring up the ark of the Lord God of Israel to the place I’ve prepared for it. 13 Because you didn’t carry it from the very first, the Lord our God attacked[w] us, since we didn’t care for it appropriately.” 14 So the priests and descendants of Levi set themselves apart to carry the ark of the Lord God of Israel. 15 The descendants of Levi carried the Ark of God the way Moses had commanded and in accordance with the command from[x] the Lord—that is, with poles[y] on their shoulders.
Music Ministry Appointments
16 David also told the leaders of the descendants of Levi to appoint their relatives as singers, to play musical instruments such as harps, lyres, and cymbals, and to keep sounding aloud with joyful voices. 17 So the descendants of Levi appointed Joel’s son Heman, his relative Berechiah’s son Asaph, as well as certain[z] relatives of Merari’s sons, including[aa] Kushaiah’s son Ethan, 18 their second order relatives[ab] Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, and Mikneiah, as well as the trustees[ac] Obed-edom and Jeiel. 19 The singers included Heman, Asaph, and Ethan (who played bronze cymbals). 20 Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah played harps to accompany the women singers,[ad] 21 and Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah led on lyres, sounding the octaves.[ae] 22 Chenaniah, music leader for the descendants of Levi, served as music director, because he was expert at it. 23 Berechiah and Elkanah served as gatekeepers for the ark. 24 Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer the priests were appointed to sound the trumpets before the Ark of God, and Obed-edom and Jehiah were trustees[af] for the ark.
The Ark is Moved to Jerusalem
25 Then David, the elders of Israel, and the leaders of groups of thousands[ag] proceeded to bring the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord from Obed-edom’s house, rejoicing as they went.[ah] 26 As God helped the descendants of Levi who were carrying the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams. 27 David wore a robe made from fine linen, as did all of the descendants of Levi who were carrying the ark, the singers, and Chenaniah the music and choir director. David also wore a linen ephod. 28 All of Israel were bringing up the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord, accompanied by shouting, sounding of horns, trumpets, and cymbals, along with loud music on harps and lyres. 29 But as the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord approached the City of David, Saul’s daughter Michal was peering out a window, watching King David dancing and cavorting around, and she despised him in her heart.
The Ark is Placed in the Tent(E)
16 They brought the Ark of God, placed it within the tent that David had erected, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings in the presence of God. 2 After David had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord 3 and distributed a loaf of bread, a date bar, and a raisin bar to every person in Israel—that is, to each man and to each woman. 4 In the presence of the ark of the Lord, he appointed some of the descendants of Levi to minister continually by remembering,[ai] giving thanks, and praising the Lord God of Israel. 5 Their director Asaph played cymbals, and next to him was Zechariah, followed by Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-edom, and Jeiel, who played harps and lyres. 6 The priests Benaiah and Jahaziel played the trumpets continually in the presence of the Ark of the Covenant of God.
David’s Psalm of Thanksgiving(F)
7 On that very day, David composed this psalm of thanksgiving to the Lord just for[aj] Asaph and his companions:[ak]
8 Give thanks to the Lord,
calling on his name.
Make what he has done known among the people.
9 Sing to him,
sing psalms to him,
and think[al] about all of his miraculous deeds.
10 Find joy in his holy name;
let the hearts of those who keep on seeking the Lord rejoice.
11 Seek the Lord and his strength.
Always look to him.[am]
12 Keep remembering the awesome deeds that he has done,
along with his miracles
and the rulings that he has handed down,
13 you descendants of his servant Israel,
you descendants of Jacob,
the ones he has chosen.
14 He is the Lord our God.
His justice is in all of the land.
15 Remember his covenant forever,
his promise that he made to the thousandth generation,
16 the covenant[an] that he made with Abraham,
and the oath he swore to Isaac.
17 He confirmed it to Jacob in the form of an ordinance,
an eternal covenant to Israel,
18 when he told Israel,
“To you I will give the land of Canaan
as your joyful inheritance.”[ao]
19 When you were few in number—
very few, and strangers at that—
20 wandering from nation to nation,
from one kingdom to another,
21 he did not let anyone wrong them.
He warned kings on their behalf,
22 “Don’t touch my chosen ones,
and don’t hurt my prophets!”
23 Let all the earth sing to the Lord!
Day after day proclaim his deliverance![ap]
24 Declare his glory among the nations,
and his miraculous deeds to all people,
25 because the Lord is great,
and he is praised greatly!
He is feared above every god.
26 For all of the gods of the other[aq] nations are mere[ar] idols,
but the Lord fashioned the heavens!
27 Splendor and majesty surround him,
and strength and joy fill his palace.[as]
28 Let the families of earth recognize the Lord—
that he is glorious and powerful.
29 Recognize the glory that is due the Lord!
Bring your offering,
and come into his presence,
worshiping the Lord in all of his holy splendor.
30 Tremble in his presence, all the earth!
Surely the inhabited world[at] stands firm—
it cannot be moved.
31 Let the heavens rejoice,
and the earth be glad!
Say to the nations,
“The Lord reigns!”
32 Let the sea roar
along with everything that fills it!
Let the fields exult,
along with everything in them!
33 Then let the trees in the forest sing out in praise,
for the Lord is coming to judge the world.
34 Give thanks to the Lord,
because he is good
and because his gracious love is eternal!
35 Call out,[au] “Save us, God, you who delivers us!
Gather us and rescue us from the nations!”
We will thank your holy name
and rejoice as we praise you!
36 Praise the Lord God of Israel,
who lives from eternity to eternity!
Then all of the people shouted “Amen!” and praised the Lord.
David Establishes Regular Worship
37 Later David[av] left the presence of the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord so Asaph and his fellow descendants of Levi could serve the ark there continually each day, doing whatever was required. 38 Obed-edom and 68 of his relatives remained also, with Jeduthun’s son Obed-edom and Hosah serving as trustees.[aw] 39 He left Zadok the priest and his relatives at the Tent of the Lord at the high place in Gibeon, where they ministered in the Lord’s presence, 40 sacrificing the regular burnt offerings regularly each morning and evening to the Lord on the altar dedicated to that purpose, doing everything written in the Law of the Lord, just as he had commanded Israel.
41 David[ax] also appointed Heman, Jeduthun, and others chosen by name to give thanks to the Lord, because “his gracious love is eternal.”[ay] 42 They accompanied their songs of praise to God with trumpets, cymbals, and other musical instruments while Jeduthun’s children served as trustees.[az] 43 After this, everyone left for their own homes and David went home to bless his own household.
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