Chronological
11 King Hiram of Tyre sent messengers to David. He also sent cedar trees, carpenters, and stonemasons. They built a house for David. 12 Then David knew that the Lord had really made him king of Israel and had made him ruler over his kingdom for the good of his people, Israel.
13 David moved from Hebron to Jerusalem. In Jerusalem, he got more slave women and wives. So David had more children who were born in Jerusalem. 14 David’s sons who were born in Jerusalem are Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, 15 Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, 16 Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.
David Fights Against the Philistines
17 When the Philistines heard that the Israelites had anointed David to be the king of Israel, all the Philistines went up to kill him. David heard about this and went down into the fort at Jerusalem. 18 The Philistines came and camped in Rephaim Valley.
19 David asked the Lord, saying, “Should I go up to fight against the Philistines? Will you help me defeat them?”
The Lord answered, “Yes, I certainly will help you defeat the Philistines.”
20 Then David went to Baal Perazim and defeated the Philistines in that place. He said, “The Lord broke through my enemies like water breaking through a dam.” That is why David named that place “Baal Perazim.”[a] 21 The Philistines left the statues of their gods behind at Baal Perazim. David and his men took them away.
22 Again the Philistines came up and camped in Rephaim Valley.
23 David prayed to the Lord again and got this answer: “Don’t go up the valley. Go around them to the other side of their army. Attack them from the other side of the balsam trees. 24 When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, you must act quickly because that is the sign that the Lord has gone out in front of you to defeat the Philistines.[b]”
25 David did what the Lord commanded him to do, and he defeated the Philistines. He chased them from Geba to Gezer, killing them all along the way.
God’s Holy Box Is Moved to Jerusalem
6 David again gathered all the best soldiers in Israel. There were 30,000 men. 2 Then David and all his men went to Baalah in Judah[c] to take God’s Holy Box there. The Holy Box is like God’s throne—people go there to call on the name of the Lord All-Powerful who sits as king above the Cherub angels that are on that Box. 3 David’s men brought the Holy Box out of Abinadab’s house on the hill. Then they put God’s Holy Box on a new wagon. Uzzah and Ahio, sons of Abinadab, were driving the new wagon.
4 So they carried the Holy Box out of Abinadab’s house on the hill. The sons of Abinadab, Uzzah and Ahio, drove the new wagon. Ahio was walking in front of the Holy Box. 5 David and all the Israelites were dancing in front of the Lord and playing all kinds of musical instruments. There were lyres, harps, drums, rattles, instruments made from cypress wood, and cymbals. 6 When David’s men came to the threshing floor of Nacon, the oxen stumbled, and God’s Holy Box began to fall off the wagon. Uzzah caught the Holy Box. 7 But the Lord was angry with Uzzah and killed him for that mistake. Uzzah showed he did not honor God when he touched the Holy Box, so he died there by God’s Holy Box. 8 David was upset because the Lord had killed Uzzah. David called that place “Perez Uzzah.”[d] It is still called Perez Uzzah today.
9 David became afraid of the Lord that day, and he said, “How can I bring God’s Holy Box here now?” 10 So David would not move the Lord’s Holy Box into the City of David. He put the Holy Box at the house of Obed Edom from Gath.[e] 11 The Lord’s Holy Box stayed in Obed Edom’s house for three months. The Lord blessed Obed Edom and all his family.
12 Later people told David, “The Lord has blessed the family of Obed Edom and everything he owns, because God’s Holy Box is there.” So David went and brought God’s Holy Box from Obed Edom’s house. David was very happy and excited. 13 When the men who carried the Lord’s Holy Box had walked six steps, they stopped and David sacrificed a bull and a fat calf. 14 David was dancing in front of the Lord. He was wearing a linen ephod.
15 David and all the Israelites were excited—they shouted and blew the trumpet as they brought the Lord’s Holy Box into the city. 16 Saul’s daughter Michal was looking out the window. While the Lord’s Holy Box was being carried into the city, David was jumping and dancing before the Lord. Michal saw this, and she was upset at David.
17 David put up a tent for the Holy Box. The Israelites put the Lord’s Holy Box in its place under the tent. Then David offered burnt offerings and fellowship offerings before the Lord.
18 After David had finished offering the burnt offerings and the fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord All-Powerful. 19 He also gave a share of bread, a raisin cake, and some date bread to every man and woman of Israel. Then all the people went home.
Michal Scolds David
20 David went back to bless his house, but Saul’s daughter Michal came out to meet him. She said, “The king of Israel did not honor himself today! You took off your clothes in front of your servants’ girls. You were like a fool who takes off his clothes without shame!”
21 Then David said to Michal, “The Lord chose me, not your father or anyone from his family. The Lord chose me to be leader of his people, the Israelites. So I will continue dancing and celebrating in front of the Lord. 22 I might do things that are even more embarrassing! Maybe you will not respect me, but the girls you are talking about are proud of me!”
23 Saul’s daughter Michal never had a child. She died without having any children.
Bringing Back the Box of the Agreement
13 David talked with all the officers of his army. 2 Then he called the Israelites together and said, “If you think it is a good idea, and if it is what the Lord our God wants, let us send a message to our brothers in all the areas of Israel. Let’s also send the message to the priests and Levites who live with our brothers in their towns and the fields near those towns. Let the message tell them to come and join us. 3 Let’s bring our God’s Holy Box back to us in Jerusalem. We did not pay attention to it while Saul was king.” 4 So all the Israelites agreed with David. They all thought it was the right thing to do.
5 So David gathered all the Israelites from the Shihor River in Egypt to the town of Lebo Hamath. They came together to bring the Box of the Agreement back from the town of Kiriath Jearim. 6 David and all the Israelites with him went to Baalah of Judah. (Baalah is another name for Kiriath Jearim.) They went there to bring out the Holy Box of God the Lord, who sits above the Cherub angels. It is the Box that is called by his name.
7 The people moved God’s Holy Box from Abinadab’s house and put it on a new wagon. Uzzah and Ahio were driving the wagon.
8 David and all the Israelites were celebrating before God. They were praising God and singing songs. They were playing harps, lyres, drums, cymbals, and trumpets.
9 They came to Kidon’s threshing floor. The oxen pulling the wagon stumbled, and the Holy Box almost fell. Uzzah reached out with his hand to catch it. 10 The Lord became very angry with Uzzah and killed him because he touched the Holy Box. So Uzzah died there before God. 11 And David was angry because the Lord had shown his anger in killing Uzzah. So that place has been called “Perez Uzzah”[a] ever since then.
12 That day David began to fear what God might do to him. So he said, “Should I really be the one in charge of God’s Holy Box?” 13 So he did not take the Holy Box with him to the City of David. He left it at Obed Edom’s house. Obed Edom was from the city of Gath. 14 God’s Holy Box stayed with Obed Edom’s family in his house for three months. The Lord blessed Obed Edom’s family and everything Obed Edom owned.
David’s Kingdom Grows
14 Hiram was king of the city of Tyre. He sent messengers to David. He also sent logs from cedar trees, stonecutters, and carpenters to David. Hiram sent them to build a house for David. 2 Then David understood that the Lord had really made him king of Israel. And he had made his kingdom large and powerful for the benefit of Israel, his people.
3 David married more women in the city of Jerusalem and had more sons and daughters. 4 These are the names of David’s children born in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, 5 Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet, 6 Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, 7 Elishama, Beeliada, and Eliphelet.
David Defeats the Philistines
8 The Philistines heard that David had been chosen to be the king of Israel, so all the Philistines went to look for him. When David heard about it, he went out to fight them. 9 The Philistines attacked the people living in the Valley of Rephaim and stole their things. 10 David asked God, “Should I go and fight the Philistines? Will you let me defeat them?”
The Lord answered David, “Go. I will let you defeat the Philistines.”
11 Then David and his men went up to the town of Baal Perazim. There David and his men defeated the Philistines. David said, “Waters break out from a broken dam. In the same way God has broken through my enemies! God has done this through me.” That is why that place is named Baal Perazim.[b] 12 The Philistines had left their idols at Baal Perazim. David ordered his men to burn the idols.
Another Victory Over the Philistines
13 The Philistines attacked the people living in the Valley of Rephaim again. 14 David prayed to God again, and God answered his prayer. God said, “David, don’t follow the Philistines up the hill when you attack. Instead, go around them and hide on the other side of the balsam trees. 15 When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, go out to battle because that is the sign that God has gone out in front of you to defeat the Philistines.” 16 David did what God told him to do. So David and his men defeated the Philistine army. They killed Philistine soldiers all the way from the town of Gibeon to the town of Gezer. 17 So David became famous in all the countries. The Lord made all nations afraid of him.
The Box of the Agreement in Jerusalem
15 David built houses for himself in the City of David. Then he built a place to put God’s Holy Box. He set up a tent for it. 2 Then he said, “Only the Levites are permitted to carry God’s Holy Box. The Lord chose them to carry it and to serve him forever.”
3 David told all the Israelites to meet together at Jerusalem to see the Lord’s Holy Box carried to the place he had made for it. 4 He called together these descendants of Aaron and the Levites:
5 There were 120 people from the tribe of Kohath. Uriel was their leader.
6 There were 220 people from the tribe of Merari. Asaiah was their leader.
7 There were 130 people from the tribe of Gershon. Joel was their leader.
8 There were 200 people from the tribe of Elizaphan. Shemaiah was their leader.
9 There were 80 people from the tribe of Hebron. Eliel was their leader.
10 There were 112 people from the tribe of Uzziel. Amminadab was their leader.
David Talks to the Priests and Levites
11 Then David asked the priests, Zadok and Abiathar, to come to him. David also asked these Levites to come to him: Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab. 12 David said to them, “You are the leaders from the tribe of Levi. You and the other Levites must make yourselves holy.[c] Then bring the Holy Box of the Lord, the God of Israel, to the place I have made for it. 13 The first time we tried to bring it, we failed to ask the Lord about the right way to move it. And he punished us because you Levites did not carry it.”
14 Then the priests and Levites made themselves holy so that they could carry the Holy Box of the Lord, the God of Israel. 15 The Levites used the special poles to carry God’s Holy Box on their shoulders, the way Moses commanded. They carried the Holy Box just as the Lord had said.
The Singers
16 David told the Levite leaders to get their brothers, the singers. The singers were to take their lyres, harps, and cymbals and sing happy songs.
17 Then the Levites got Heman and his brothers, Asaph and Ethan. Heman was Joel’s son. Asaph was Berekiah’s son. Ethan was Kushaiah’s son. These men were from the Merari tribe. 18 There was also a second group of Levites. They were Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed Edom, and Jeiel. These men were the Levite guards.
19 The singers Heman, Asaph, and Ethan played bronze cymbals. 20 Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah played the alamoth[d] harps. 21 Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed Edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah played the sheminith harps. This was their job forever. 22 The Levite leader Kenaniah was in charge of the singing. Kenaniah had this job because he was very skilled at singing.
23 Berekiah and Elkanah were two of the guards for the Holy Box. 24 The priests Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer had the job of blowing trumpets as they walked in front of God’s Holy Box. Obed Edom and Jehiah were the other guards for the Holy Box.
25 David, the elders of Israel, and the generals[e] went to get the Box of the Lord’s Agreement. They brought it out from Obed Edom’s house. Everyone was very happy! 26 God had helped the Levites who carried the Box of the Lord’s Agreement. So they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams to him. 27 All the Levites who carried the Holy Box wore robes made from fine linen. Kenaniah, the man in charge of the singing, and all the singers had robes made from fine linen. David also wore a robe made from fine linen. He also wore an ephod made of fine linen.
28 So all the Israelites joined in bringing up the Box of the Lord’s Agreement. They shouted, they blew rams’ horns and trumpets, and they played cymbals, lyres, and harps.
29 When the Box of the Lord’s Agreement arrived at the City of David, Saul’s daughter Michal looked through a window. When she saw King David dancing and playing, she lost her respect for him.
16 The Levites brought God’s Holy Box and put it inside the tent David had set up for it. Then they offered burnt offerings and fellowship offerings to God. 2 After David had finished giving the burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, he used the Lord’s name to bless the people. 3 Then he gave a loaf of bread, some dates, and raisins to every Israelite man and woman.
4 Then David chose some of the Levites to serve before the Lord’s Holy Box. They had the job of celebrating and giving thanks and praise to the Lord, the God of Israel. 5 Asaph was the leader of the first group. His group played the cymbals. Zechariah was the leader of the second group. The other Levites were Uzziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed Edom, and Jeiel. These men played the lyres and harps. 6 Benaiah and Jahaziel were the priests who always blew the trumpets before the Box of God’s Agreement. 7 This was when David first gave Asaph and his brothers the job of singing praises to the Lord.
David’s Song of Thanks
8 Give thanks to the Lord and call out to him!
Tell the nations what he has done!
9 Sing to him; sing praises to him.
Tell about the amazing things he has done.
10 Be proud of his holy name.
You followers of the Lord, be happy!
11 Depend on the Lord for strength.
Always go to him for help.
12 Remember the amazing things he has done.
Remember his miracles and his fair decisions.
13 The people of Israel are his servants.
The descendants of Jacob are his chosen people.
14 The Lord is our God.
He rules the whole world.
15 Remember his agreement forever,
the promise he gave that will never end.
16 Remember the agreement he made with Abraham
Remember his promise to Isaac.
17 He gave it as a law for Jacob,
as an agreement with Israel that will last forever.
18 He said, “I will give you the land of Canaan.
It will be your very own.”
19 At the time God said this, there were only a few of his people,
and they were strangers there.
20 They traveled around from nation to nation,
from one kingdom to another.
21 But the Lord did not let anyone mistreat them.
He warned kings not to harm them.
22 He said, “Don’t hurt my chosen people.
Don’t hurt my prophets.”
23 Let the whole world sing to the Lord!
Tell the good news every day about how he saves us.
24 Tell all the nations how wonderful he is!
Tell people everywhere about the amazing things he does.
25 The Lord is great and worthy of praise.
He is more awesome than any of the “gods.”
26 All the “gods” in other nations are nothing but statues,
but the Lord made the heavens!
27 He lives in the presence of glory and honor.
His Temple is a place of power and joy.
28 Praise the Lord, all people of every nation;
praise the Lord’s glory and power!
29 Give the Lord praise worthy of his glory.
Come into his presence with your offerings.
Worship the Lord in all his holy beauty.
30 Everyone on earth should tremble before him!
But the world stands firm and cannot be moved.
31 Let the heavens rejoice and the earth be happy!
Let people everywhere say, “The Lord rules!”
32 Let the sea and everything in it shout for joy!
Let the fields and everything in them be happy!
33 The trees of the forest will sing for joy when they see the Lord,
because he is coming to rule the world.
34 Give thanks to the Lord because he is good.
His faithful love will last forever.
35 Say to him,
“Save us, God our Savior.
Bring us back together,
and save us from the other nations.
Then we will give thanks to your holy name
and joyfully praise you.”
36 Praise the Lord, the God of Israel!
He always was and will always be worthy of praise!
All the people praised the Lord and said “Amen!”
37 Then David left Asaph and his brothers there in front of the Box of the Lord’s Agreement. David left them there to serve in front of it every day. 38 He also left Obed Edom and 68 other Levites to serve with Asaph and his brothers. Obed Edom and Hosah were guards. Obed Edom was Jeduthun’s son.
39 David left Zadok the priest and the other priests who served with him in front of the Lord’s Tent[f] at the high place in Gibeon. 40 Every morning and evening Zadok and the other priests offered burnt offerings to the Lord on the altar of burnt offerings. They did this to follow the rules written in the law of the Lord, which he had given Israel. 41 Heman, Jeduthun, and all the other Levites were chosen by name to praise the Lord, singing, “His faithful love will last forever.” 42 Heman and Jeduthun were with them. They had the job of blowing the trumpets and playing cymbals. They also had the job of playing other musical instruments when songs were sung to God. Jeduthun’s sons guarded the gates.
43 After the celebration, all the people left and went home. David also went home to bless his family.
Copyright © 2006 by Bible League International