Old/New Testament
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 Unbelief of Jesus’ Brothers
7 After this, Jesus traveled[a] throughout Galilee, because he didn’t want to travel[b] in Judea, since the Jewish leaders[c] there were trying to kill him. 2 Now the Jewish Festival of Tents[d] was approaching. 3 So his brothers told him, “You should leave this place and go to Judea, so that your disciples can see the actions that you’re doing, 4 since no one acts in secret if he wants to be known publicly. If you’re going to do these things, you should reveal yourself to the world!” 5 Not even his brothers believed in him.
6 Jesus told them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always here.[e] 7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify against it that its actions are evil. 8 Go up to the festival yourselves. I am not going to this festival yet,[f] because my time hasn’t fully come.” 9 After saying this, he remained in Galilee.
Jesus Arrives in Jerusalem
10 But after his brothers had gone up to the festival, he went up himself, not openly but, as it were,[g] in secret. 11 The Jewish leaders[h] kept looking for him at the festival, asking, “Where is that man?” 12 And there was a great deal of discussion about him among the crowds.[i] Some were saying, “He is a good man,” while others were saying, “No, he is deceiving the crowds!” 13 Nevertheless, no one would speak openly about him because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders.[j]
Jesus Openly Declares His Authority
14 Halfway through the festival, Jesus went up to the Temple and began teaching. 15 The Jewish leaders[k] were astonished and remarked, “How can this man be so educated when he has never gone to school?”
16 Jesus replied to them, “My teaching is not mine but comes from the one who sent me. 17 If anyone wants to do his will, he’ll know whether this teaching is from God or whether I’m speaking on my own. 18 The one who speaks on his own seeks his own praise. But the one who seeks the praise of him who sent him is genuine, and there’s nothing false in him. 19 Moses gave you the Law, didn’t he? Yet none of you is keeping the Law. Why are you trying to kill me?”
20 The crowd answered, “You have a demon! Who is trying to kill you?”
21 Jesus answered them, “I performed one action, and all of you are astonished. 22 Moses gave you circumcision—not that it is from Moses, but from the Patriarchs—and so you circumcise a man on the Sabbath. 23 If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath so that the Law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because I made a man perfectly well on the Sabbath? 24 Stop judging by appearances, but judge with righteous judgment!”
Is This the Messiah?
25 Then some of the people of Jerusalem began saying, “This is the man they are trying to kill, isn’t it? 26 And look, he is speaking in public, and they are not saying anything to him! Can it be that the authorities really know that this is the Messiah?[l] 27 We know where this man comes from. But when the Messiah[m] comes, no one will know where he comes from.”
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