Chronological
11 King Hiram of Tyre sent messengers to David with cedar wood, carpenters, and stonemasons, and they built a house for David. 12 Then David understood that the Lord had appointed him king over Israel, and that He had exalted his kingdom for the sake of His people Israel.
13 David took more concubines and wives in Jerusalem, after having come from Hebron, and they bore him more sons and daughters. 14 These are the names of the children born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, 15 Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, 16 Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.
David Defeats the Philistines(A)
17 When the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all of the Philistines went up to search for David, but David heard about this and went down to the stronghold. 18 Now the Philistines had come and were spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. 19 So David asked the Lord, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You give them into my hand?”
The Lord said to David, “Go up, because I will certainly give them into your hand.”
20 So David came to Baal Perazim, and David defeated them there. He said, “The Lord has breached my enemies before me like bursting tides.” Therefore, he named that place Baal Perazim. 21 The Philistines abandoned their idols there, and David and his men carried them away.
22 Once again, the Philistines went up and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. 23 When David inquired of the Lord, He said, “You shall not go up. Circle around behind them and come against them opposite the trees. 24 When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the trees, pay attention, because at that point the Lord is going before you to defeat the army of the Philistines.” 25 So David did just as the Lord commanded, and he defeated the Philistines from Geba as far as Gezer.
The Ark Brought to Jerusalem(B)
6 Again David gathered all of the chosen men in Israel, thirty thousand. 2 David and all of the people who were with him arose and went from Baalah of Judah to bring up the ark of God, so named for the name of the Lord of Hosts who sits enthroned among the cherubim that are upon it. 3 They loaded the ark of God on a new cart and brought it from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio the sons of Abinadab were driving the new cart. 4 They brought it with the ark of God from the house of Abinadab on the hill, and Ahio was walking in front of the ark. 5 Meanwhile, David and the entire house of Israel were celebrating before the Lord with all sorts of instruments made of fir wood, on harps, on stringed instruments, on tambourines, on sistrums, and on cymbals.
6 When they came to the threshing floor of Nakon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen had stumbled. 7 The Lord became angry against Uzzah, and God struck him down on the spot for his irreverence. He died there beside the ark of God.
8 David became angry because of the outburst of the Lord against Uzzah; that place is called Perez Uzzah to this day.
9 David feared the Lord that day, and he thought, “How can the ark of the Lord come to me?” 10 So David did not allow the ark of the Lord to be brought to him in the City of David. Instead, David redirected it to the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. 11 The ark of the Lord remained at the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite for three months, and the Lord blessed Obed-Edom and his entire household.
12 When it was reported to King David, “The Lord has blessed Obed-Edom and everything that belongs to him, for the sake of the ark of God,” David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with rejoicing. 13 When those who were carrying the ark of the Lord had taken six steps, David would sacrifice an ox and a fattened steer. 14 David danced before the Lord with all of his might, and he wore a linen ephod. 15 So David and the whole house of Israel escorted the ark of the Lord with shouting and the sound of the horn.
16 When the ark of the Lord entered the City of David, Michal the daughter of Saul looked down from the window, and upon seeing King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she thought contemptuously of him in her mind.
17 They brought the ark of the Lord and set it in its place inside the tent that David had erected for it. Then David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord. 18 When David had finished offering the burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people before the Lord of Hosts. 19 He distributed to all of the people, the entire multitude of Israel, both men and women, one bread cake, one date cake, and one raisin cake to each one. Then all of the people left, each to his house.
20 David returned to bless his household, but Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet him. She said, “How the king of Israel has dignified himself today, exposing himself this day in the sight of his servant’s slave girls like one of the rabble might shamelessly expose himself.”
21 Then David responded to Michal, “It was before the Lord, who chose me over your father and over everyone in his household, to appoint me ruler over the people of the Lord, over Israel. I was celebrating before the Lord. 22 I will humble myself even more than this and be abased in my own eyes. But by the maidservants, of whom you have spoken, I will be held in honor.”
23 Michal the daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death.
The Ark(A)
13 So David conferred with the captains of the thousands and of the hundreds and with every leader. 2 Then he said to all the assembly of Israel, “If it seems good to you and to the Lord our God, let us send word to the rest of our brothers throughout all the land of Israel along with the priests and the Levites in their cities, that they might join us here. 3 Then let us bring the ark of the Lord our God back to us, for we did not seek it during the days of Saul.” 4 Then all the assembly agreed to do it because the thing seemed right in the eyes of all the people.
5 So David assembled all Israel, from Shihor in Egypt as far as the entrance to Hamath, in order to bring the ark of God from Kiriath Jearim. 6 And he went up with all Israel to Baalah, that is, to Kiriath Jearim, which belongs to Judah, to bring up the ark of God, the Lord who dwells between the cherubim, where His name is called.
7 They transported the ark of God on a new cart from the house of Abinadab with Uzzah and Ahio driving the cart 8 while David and all Israel played music before God with all their might, performing songs on lyres, harps, tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets.
9 When they had come as far as the threshing floor of Kidon, Uzzah stretched out his hand to take hold of the ark because the oxen had stumbled on the path. 10 Then the anger of the Lord burned against Uzzah, and He struck him because he reached his hand out to touch the ark. Thus, Uzzah died there before God.
11 Now David was angry because the Lord struck out against Uzzah, so he called that place Perez Uzzah, as it is to this day.
12 David was afraid of God that day, saying, “How can I ever bring the ark of God to myself?” 13 So David stopped moving the ark of God to himself in the City of David and diverted it to the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite, 14 and while the ark of God stayed in his house three months, the Lord blessed the house of Obed-Edom and all he had.
David Established at Jerusalem(B)
14 Then Hiram the king of Tyre sent messengers to David with cedar wood, stonemasons, and carpenters to build a palace for him. 2 So David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel because his kingdom was highly exalted for the sake of His people Israel.
3 Now David took more wives in Jerusalem, and David became the father of more sons and daughters. 4 These are the names of the children who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, 5 Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet, 6 Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, 7 Elishama, Beeliada, and Eliphelet.
David Defeats the Philistines
8 Now when the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, all the Philistines went up to seek out David, but David heard and went out to them. 9 So the Philistines came and raided the Valley of Rephaim. 10 Then David inquired of the Lord, saying, “Should I go up against the Philistines? Will You give them into my hand?”
The Lord answered, “Go up against them, and I will give them into your hand.”
11 And they went up to Baal Perazim, and David struck them down there. Then David said, “God broke through my enemies by my hand as the breaking through of waters.” Therefore they named that place Baal Perazim. 12 They abandoned their gods there, and David said that they should be burned with fire.
13 Now the Philistines raided the valley once more. 14 And David again inquired of God, and God answered him: “Do not go up after them, but turn around behind them and come to them in front of the balsam trees. 15 Whenever you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, you will advance the battle, for God has gone out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.” 16 David did just as God commanded him, and they struck the camp of the Philistines from Gibeon as far as Gezer.
17 So the fame of David went out in all the lands, and the Lord put the dread of him on all the nations.
The Ark Brought to Jerusalem(C)
15 So David built houses for himself in the City of David, and he prepared a place for the ark of God and pitched a tent for it. 2 Then David said, “No one may carry the ark of God except the Levites since the Lord chose them to carry the ark of the Lord and to minister before Him always.”
3 David assembled all Israel to Jerusalem in order to bring up the ark of the Lord to the place he had prepared for it. 4 And David gathered representatives of the sons of Aaron and the Levites, as follows:
5 from the sons of Kohath,
Uriel the leader and one hundred and twenty of his brothers;
6 from the sons of Merari,
Asaiah the leader and two hundred and twenty of his brothers;
7 from the sons of Gershom,
Joel the leader and one hundred and thirty of his brothers;
8 from the sons of Elizaphan,
Shemaiah the leader and two hundred of his brothers;
9 from the sons of Hebron,
Eliel the leader and eighty of his brothers;
10 from the sons of Uzziel,
Amminadab the leader and one hundred and twelve of his brothers.
11 Then David called for Zadok and Abiathar the priests and for the Levites: Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab. 12 He said to them, “You are the captains of the fathers’ houses for the Levites. Consecrate yourselves, you and your brothers, so you may bring up the ark of the Lord, the God of Israel, to the place I have prepared for it 13 because on the first attempt without you the Lord struck out against us since we did not seek Him properly.” 14 So the priests and the Levites consecrated themselves to bring up the ark of the Lord, the God of Israel. 15 The sons of the Levites lifted up the ark of God just as Moses commanded, with the poles on their shoulders, according to the word of the Lord.
16 Then David told the leaders of the Levites to position their brothers the singers with musical instruments, harps, lyres, and cymbals to resound with joyful songs.
17 So the Levites placed Heman the son of Joel, and from his brothers, Asaph the son of Berekiah, and from their brothers the sons of Merari, Ethan the son of Kushaiah, 18 and with them their brothers of the second rank: Zechariah, Ben, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, and Jeiel, the gatekeepers.
19 So the singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, were directed to sound cymbals of brass. 20 Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah were to accompany with harps on Alamoth. 21 Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah were to lead with lyres on the Sheminith. 22 Kenaniah, leader of the Levites, was to conduct the music because he was skillful.
23 Berekiah and Elkanah were gatekeepers for the ark. 24 Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer, the priests, were assigned to sound trumpets before the ark of God. Obed-Edom and Jehiah were gatekeepers for the ark.
25 So David, the elders of Israel, and the leaders of the thousands went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord from the house of Obed-Edom with rejoicing. 26 Since God helped the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams. 27 Now David was clothed in a fine linen robe, as were the Levites who carried the ark, the singers, and Kenaniah, the conductor of singing and singers. David himself wore a linen ephod. 28 So all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the Lord with a shout and with the sound of the ram’s horn and with trumpets and cymbals, making music on harps and lyres.
29 Now as the ark of the covenant of the Lord was entering the City of David, Michal the daughter of Saul was looking down from the window, and when she saw King David dancing and spinning, she despised him in her heart.
The Ark Set in the Tent
16 So they brought in the ark of God, placed it in the midst of the tent that David had erected for it, and drew near to God with burnt offerings and peace offerings. 2 When David had finished offering the burnt offerings and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord. 3 Then he distributed to all the children of Israel, both men and women, a loaf of bread, a piece of meat, and a raisin cake for each.
4 And he appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of the Lord, to commemorate, to thank, and to praise the Lord God of Israel: 5 Asaph the chief, and next to him Zechariah, then Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, and Obed-Edom: Jeiel with stringed instruments and harps, but Asaph made music with the cymbals. 6 Moreover, Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests sounded trumpets continually before the ark of the covenant of God.
David’s Psalm of Thanksgiving(D)
7 On that day then, David delivered for the first time this psalm of thanksgiving to the Lord into the hand of Asaph and his brothers:
8 Give thanks to the Lord, call on His name;
make known His deeds among the peoples.
9 Sing to Him, sing praise to Him,
recount all His wonders.
10 Glory in His holy name;
let the heart of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
11 Seek the Lord and His strength;
seek His face continually.
12 Remember His wonders which He has done,
His wonders and the judgments of His mouth,
13 O seed of Israel, His servant,
O sons of Jacob, His chosen.
14 He is the Lord our God;
His judgments are in all the earth.
15 Remember His covenant forever,
the word He commanded for a thousand generations,
16 that He made with Abraham,
even His oath to Isaac.
17 He confirmed it to Jacob as a statute,
to Israel for an everlasting covenant,
18 saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan
as the portion of your inheritance.”
19 When you were few in number,
few indeed, and strangers there,
20 when they wandered from nation to nation,
from one kingdom to another,
21 He allowed no man to oppress them;
He rebuked kings on their account,
22 saying, “Do not touch My anointed,
and do My prophets no harm.”
23 Sing to the Lord, all the earth.
Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day.
24 Declare His glory among the nations,
His wonders among all the peoples.
25 For great is the Lord and greatly to be praised.
He is to be feared above all gods.
26 For all the gods of the peoples are idols,
but the Lord made the heavens.
27 Honor and majesty are before Him;
strength and joy are in His place.
28 Give to the Lord, O families of the peoples,
give to the Lord glory and strength.
29 Give to the Lord the glory due His name;
bring an offering and come before Him,
bow down to the Lord in holy array.
30 Tremble before Him, all the earth.
The world also is firmly established; it shall not be moved.
31 Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad.
Let them say among the nations, “The Lord is King.”
32 Let the sea roar, and all its fullness.
Let the field rejoice, and all that is in it.
33 Then the trees of the forest will ring out before the Lord,
for He is coming to judge the earth.
34 Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;
for His mercy endures forever.
35 Now say, “Save us, O God of our salvation,
and gather us and deliver us from the nations,
that we may give thanks to Your holy name,
to glory in Your praise.
36 Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting.”
Then all the people said, “Amen,” and “Praise the Lord.”
Worship Before the Ark
37 So he left Asaph and his brothers before the ark of the covenant of the Lord to minister before the ark regularly, as each day required, 38 and also Obed-Edom and his sixty-eight brothers, while Obed-Edom, the son of Jeduthun, and Hosah were to be gatekeepers.
39 And he left Zadok the priest and his priestly brothers before the tabernacle of the Lord at the high place that was at Gibeon 40 to offer burnt offerings to the Lord on the altar of burnt offering continually, morning and evening, according to all that was written in the Law of the Lord, which He commanded Israel.
41 With them were Heman and Jeduthun and the rest who were chosen, who were marked by name to give thanks to the Lord, for His mercy endures forever. 42 Heman and Jeduthun had with them trumpets and cymbals to sound aloud and instruments for sacred song. The sons of Jeduthun were appointed to the gate.
43 Then all the people departed, each man to his house, and David returned to bless his house.
The Holy Bible, Modern English Version. Copyright © 2014 by Military Bible Association. Published and distributed by Charisma House.