Chronological
11 So Hiram, the king of Tyre, sent messengers to David, along with cedar trees and craftsmen skilled in wood and in stone masonry,[a] and they built a house for David. 12 David realized that Yahweh had established him as king over Israel and that he had exalted his kingdom because of his people Israel. 13 David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem after he came from Hebron, and more sons and daughters were born to him. 14 These are the names of the ones born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua and Shobab and Nathan and Solomon; 15 Ibhar and Elishua and Nepheg and Japhia; 16 Elishama and Eliada and Eliphelet.
War with the Philistines
17 When the Philistines heard that they had anointed David as king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to seek David, but David heard and went down to the stronghold.[b] 18 Now the Philistines had come, and they spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. 19 And David inquired of Yahweh, saying, “Shall I go up to the Philistines? Will you give them into my hands?” Yahweh said to David, “Go up, for I will certainly give[c] the Philistines into your hand.” 20 So David came to Baal Perazim and defeated them there; and David said, “Yahweh has burst through my enemies before me like the bursting of water.” Therefore he called the name of that place Baal Perazim.[d] 21 They had left their idols there, so David and his men carried them away.
22 Once again[e] the Philistines came up and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. 23 So David inquired of Yahweh, but he said, “You shall not go up. Rather, go around to their rear and come to them from opposite the balsam trees. 24 And it shall be[f] that when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then pay attention, for then Yahweh has gone out before you to strike down the army of the Philistines.” 25 So David did thus, just as Yahweh had commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines from Geba all the way[g] to Gezer.
David Brings the Ark of Yahweh to Jerusalem
6 David again gathered all the chosen men in Israel, thirty thousand. 2 David got up and went and all the people who were with him, from Baale-judah to bring up from there the ark of God which is called the name, the name of Yahweh of hosts, upon which the cherubim sit.[h] 3 They loaded the ark of God on a new utility cart, and they carried it from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. Now Uzza and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were driving the new utility cart along. 4 So they brought it out from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill with the ark of God, and Ahio was going before the ark. 5 Now David and all the house of Israel were dancing before Yahweh, with all kinds of musical instruments made from ash trees, and with zithers, harps, tambourines, sistrums, and cymbals. 6 When they came to the threshing floor of Nakon, Uzza reached out to the ark of God and took hold of it, because the oxen had stumbled. 7 Then the anger of Yahweh was kindled[i] against Uzza, and God struck him down there because of the indiscretion,[j] and he died there beside the ark of God. 8 David was angry[k] because Yahweh had burst out against Uzza, and he called that place Perez-Uzza until this day. 9 But David feared Yahweh on that day and said, “How can the ark of Yahweh come to me?” 10 However, David was not willing to bring the ark of Yahweh to himself, to the city of David, so David caused it to turn to the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. 11 So the ark of Yahweh remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite for three months, and Yahweh blessed Obed-Edom and all his household.
12 It was told to King David, “Yahweh has blessed the household of Obed-Edom and all that is his because of the ark of God.” So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the city of David with jubilation. 13 It happened that when the carriers of the ark of Yahweh had marched six steps that he sacrificed an ox and a fatling. 14 Now David was dancing with all his might before Yahweh, and David was wearing[l] a linen ephod. 15 So David and all the house of Israel were bringing up the ark of Yahweh with shouts of joyful acclaim and with the sound of the trumpet. 16 It happened that when the ark of Yahweh came into the city of David, Michal the daughter of Saul looked down through the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before Yahweh, and she despised him in her heart.
17 They brought the ark of Yahweh and set it in its place in the middle of the tent which David had pitched for it. Then David offered up burnt offerings and fellowship offerings in the presence of Yahweh. 18 When David had finished from the sacrificing of the burnt offerings and the fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of Yahweh of hosts. 19 Then he distributed to all the people, to all the multitude of Israel, from man to woman, to each: one ring-shaped piece of bread, one cake of dates, and one cake of raisins; and all the people went each to his house.
20 When David returned to bless his household, Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David. She said, “How the king of Israel honored himself today by uncovering himself[m] before the eyes of the maids of his servants, as the total exposure of a worthless one.”[n] 21 So David said to Michal, “In the presence of Yahweh who chose me over[o] your father and over[p] his household, to appoint me as leader over the people of Yahweh, over Israel, I have celebrated before Yahweh. 22 I will demean myself again more than this, and I will be abased in my eyes, but with the maids whom you mentioned, with them I will be honored.” 23 So for Michal the daughter of Saul, she had no child until the day of her death.
The Ark of the Covenant Brought from Kiriath-Jearim
13 And David consulted with the commanders of thousands and hundreds, with every leader. 2 And David said to all the assembly of Israel, “If it seems good to you[a] and before Yahweh our God, let us send word abroad[b] to our brothers who remain in all the land of Israel and to the priests and Levites with them in the cities with their pasturelands that they might be gathered to us. 3 Then let us bring around the ark of our God to us, for we did not seek it in the days of Saul.” 4 And all the assembly agreed to do so, for the word was pleasing in the eyes of all the people.
5 And David summoned all Israel from Shihor of Egypt up to Lebo-Hamath to bring the ark of God from Kiriath-Jearim. 6 And David and all Israel went up to Baalah, Kiriath-Jearim of Judah, to bring up from there the ark of Yahweh God who is enthroned between the cherubim, which is called the name. 7 And they carried the ark of God upon a new cart from the house of Abinadab, and Uzza and Ahio were driving the cart.
8 Now David and all Israel were celebrating before God with all their strength, and with songs, lyres, harps, tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets. 9 And when they came to the threshing floor of Kidon, Uzza reached out his hand to hold the ark because the cattle had stumbled. 10 And Yahweh was angry[c] with Uzza, and he struck him down because he reached his hand upon the ark. And he died there before God. 11 And David was angry[d] because Yahweh had broken out in wrath against Uzza. And that place is called Perez Uzza unto this day. 12 And David feared God on that day, saying, “How can I bring the ark of God home to me?” 13 So David did not move the ark to himself into the city of David but diverted it to the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. 14 And the ark of God remained with the household of Obed-Edom in his house three months. And Yahweh blessed the household of Obed-Edom and all that he had.
David’s Wives and Children
14 And Hiram, king of Tyre, sent messengers to David and cedar trees, masons,[e] and carpenters[f] to build a house for him. 2 And David knew that Yahweh had established him as king over Israel and that his kingdom was highly exalted for the sake of his people Israel. 3 And David took more wives in Jerusalem, and David fathered more sons and daughters. 4 Now 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 When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed as king over all Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. But David heard and went out from before them. 9 Now the Philistines came and carried out a raid in the Valley of Rephaim. 10 Then David inquired of God, saying, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you put them into my hand?” And Yahweh said to him, “Go up. I will put them into your hand.” 11 And he went up to Baal-Perazim, and David struck them there. And David said, “God has burst out against my enemies by my hand like waters burst out.” Therefore they will call the name of this place Baal-Perazim. 12 And they abandoned their gods there. And David commanded, and they were burnt with fire. 13 Then the Philistines carried out another raid[g] in the valley. 14 Then David inquired again of God. And God said to him, “You shall not go up after them. Go around from before them and come against them the opposite way of the balsam trees. 15 And it shall be that when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then go out into battle, for God goes out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.” 16 And David did as God commanded him, and they struck the camp of the Philistines from Gibeon to Gezer. 17 And the fame of David went out through all the lands. And Yahweh put the fear of him upon all the nations.
David’s Wives and Children
15 And David built houses for himself in the city of David, and he established a place for the ark of God. And he pitched a tent for it. 2 Then David ordered that none except the Levites should carry the ark of God, for Yahweh had chosen them to carry the ark of Yahweh and to serve him forever. 3 And David gathered all Israel to Jerusalem to bring up the ark of Yahweh to its place that he had established for it. 4 And David gathered the sons of Aaron and the Levites. 5 Of the sons of Kohath: Uriel the chief and one hundred and twenty of his brothers. 6 Of the sons of Merari: Asaiah the chief and two hundred and twenty of his brothers. 7 Of the sons of Gershom: Joel the chief and one hundred and thirty of his brothers. 8 Of the sons of Elizaphan: Shemaiah the chief and two hundred of his brothers. 9 Of the sons of Hebron: Eliel the chief and eighty of his brothers. 10 Of the sons of Uzziel: Amminadab the chief and one hundred and twelve of his brothers. 11 Then David summoned Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and the Levites Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab. 12 And he said to them, “You are the heads of the families[h] for the Levites. Sanctify yourselves and your brothers and bring up the ark of Yahweh, the God of Israel, to the place I have established for it. 13 Because the first time you did not, and Yahweh our God burst out against us, for we did not care for it according to the law.” 14 Then the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of Yahweh, the God of Israel. 15 And the sons of the Levites carried the ark of God according to what Moses commanded, according to the word of Yahweh, on their shoulders with the carrying poles upon them.
16 Then David ordered the chiefs of the Levites to appoint their brothers as singers with instruments of song, musical instruments, stringed instruments, and cymbals, raising their voices for joy.[i] 17 So the Levites appointed Heman son of Joel, and from his brothers, Asaph the son of Berekiah, and from the sons of Merari, their brothers, Ethan the son of Kushaiah; 18 and with them their brothers of the second rank, Zechariah the son, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, and the gatekeepers Obed-Edom and Jeiel. 19 Now the singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, were to sound bronze cymbals; 20 Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah were to play on harps according to Alamoth; 21 and Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah were to play lyres, directing according to the Sheminith. 22 And Kenaniah, chief of the Levites in singing, was to be an instructor in singing because he understood. 23 And Berekiah and Elkanah were gatekeepers for the ark. 24 And Shebaniah, Jehoshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Elizezer the priests sounded the trumpets[j] before the ark of God. And Obed-Edom and Jehiah were gatekeepers for the ark.
25 And it happened that David and the elders of Israel and the commanders of thousands went to bring up the ark of the covenant of Yahweh from the house of Obed-Edom with joy. 26 And it happened that when God helped the Levites carrying the ark of the covenant of Yahweh, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams. 27 Now David was clothed with a robe of fine linen; so also all the Levites who were carrying the ark, the singers, and Kenaniah the chief of the singing. And David wore a linen ephod. 28 And all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of Yahweh with shouting, with the sound of a shofar,[k] and with trumpets and cymbals, making loud music with musical instruments and stringed instruments.
29 And when the ark of the covenant of Yahweh came into the city of David, then Michal the daughter of Saul looked down from the window and saw the king, David, leaping and dancing. And she despised him in her heart.
The Ark of the Covenant Placed in Its Tent
16 And they brought the ark of God and set it inside the tent that David had pitched for it. And they offered burnt offerings and fellowship offerings before God. 2 And when David had finished offering the burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of Yahweh. 3 And he distributed to every man of Israel, both men and women, to each person a loaf of bread, a cake of dates, and a cake of raisins. 4 Then he appointed some of the Levites as ministers before the ark of Yahweh, to invoke, thank, and praise Yahweh the God of Israel. 5 Asaph was chief, and his second was Zechariah; Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-Edom, and Jeiel were on harps and lyres. And Asaph played on the cymbals. 6 And Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests blew on the trumpets continually before the ark of the covenant of God. 7 Then on that day David first appointed to give thanks to Yahweh by the hand of Asaph and his brothers.
David’s Song of Thanks
8 Give thanks to Yahweh; call upon his name;
make known his deeds among the nations!
9 Sing to him; sing praises to him;
tell of his wondrous works!
10 Glory in his holy name;
let the hearts of those seeking Yahweh rejoice!
11 Seek Yahweh and his strength;
seek his face continually!
12 Remember his wonderful works that he has done,
his wonders and the judgments of his mouth,
13 O offspring of Israel, his servant,
O sons of Jacob, his chosen ones!
14 He is Yahweh 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[l] with Abraham,
his sworn oath to Isaac.
17 And he confirmed it to Jacob as a statute,
an everlasting covenant to Israel,
18 saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan,
the portion of your inheritance.”
19 When you were few in number, little,
and sojourners were in it,
20 when they wandered from nation to nation,
and from one kingdom to another people,
21 he did not allow anyone to oppress them,
and he rebuked kings on their account,
22 saying, “You must not touch my anointed
nor do harm to my prophets!”
23 Sing to Yahweh, all the earth!
Proclaim his salvation from day to day!
24 Proclaim his glory among the nations,
his wondrous works among the peoples!
25 For Yahweh is great and greatly praised,
and he is feared among all gods.
26 For all the gods of the nations are idols,
but Yahweh made the heavens.
27 Splendor and majesty are before him;
strength and joy are in his place.
28 Ascribe to Yahweh, O clans of the nations,
ascribe to Yahweh glory and strength!
29 Ascribe to Yahweh the glory of his name!
Lift up an offering and come before him!
Bow down to Yahweh in the splendor of holiness!
30 Tremble before him, all the earth;
surely the world shall not be shaken.
31 Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad,
and let them tell the peoples, “Yahweh reigns!”
32 Let the sea roar and its fullness;
let the field rejoice and all that is in it.
33 Then the trees of the forest shall sing for joy before Yahweh,
for he comes to judge the earth.
34 Oh give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good;
his loyal love is everlasting.
35 Then say, “Save us, O God of our salvation;
gather us and rescue us from the nations
that we may give thanks to your holy name
and glory in your praise.
36 Blessed be Yahweh the God of Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting!”
Then all the people said, “Amen!” and praised Yahweh.
Worship and the Ark
37 So he[m] left Asaph and his brothers there before the ark of the covenant of Yahweh to minister before the ark regularly as each day required,[n] 38 and he left Obed-Edom with his sixty-eight brothers. And Obed-Edom, the son of Jeduthun, and Hosah were gatekeepers. 39 And he left Zadok the priest and his brothers the priests before the tabernacle of Yahweh at the high place which was at Gibeon 40 to offer burnt offerings regularly to Yahweh on the altar of burnt offering, morning and evening, according to all that was written in the law of Yahweh that he commanded concerning Israel. 41 And with them were Heman and Jeduthun and the remainder of those chosen, who were designated by name to give thanks to Yahweh, for his loyal love is everlasting. 42 And Heman and Jeduthun with them had trumpets and cymbals for making music, along with instruments for the song of God. And the sons of Jeduthun were at the gate. 43 Then all the people went each to his house, and David turned to bless his household.
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