2 Samuel 5; 2 Samuel 6; 1 Chronicles 13; 1 Chronicles 14; 1 Chronicles 15; 1 Chronicles 16

1 Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron, and said, "Look, we are your bone and flesh.

2 For some time, while Saul was king over us, it was you who led out Israel and brought it in. The Lord said to you: It is you who shall be shepherd of my people Israel, you who shall be ruler over Israel."

3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron; and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel.

4 David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.

5 At Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months; and at Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years.

6 The king and his men marched to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who said to David, "You will not come in here, even the blind and the lame will turn you back"—thinking, "David cannot come in here."

7 Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion, which is now the city of David.

8 David had said on that day, "Whoever would strike down the Jebusites, let him get up the water shaft to attack the lame and the blind, those whom David hates." Therefore it is said, "The blind and the lame shall not come into the house."

9 David occupied the stronghold, and named it the city of David. David built the city all around from the Millo inward.

10 And David became greater and greater, for the Lord, the God of hosts, was with him.

11 King Hiram of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with cedar trees, and carpenters and masons who built David a house.

12 David then perceived that the Lord had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.

13 In Jerusalem, after he came from Hebron, David took more concubines and wives; 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.

17 When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, all the Philistines went up in search of David; but David heard about it and went down to the stronghold.

18 Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the valley of Rephaim.

19 David inquired of the Lord, "Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you give them into my hand?" The Lord said to David, "Go up; for I will certainly give the Philistines into your hand."

20 So David came to Baal-perazim, and David defeated them there. He said, "The Lord has burst forth against my enemies before me, like a bursting flood." Therefore that place is called Baal-perazim.

21 The Philistines abandoned their idols there, and David and his men carried them away.

22 Once again the Philistines came up, and were spread out in the valley of Rephaim.

23 When David inquired of the Lord, he said, "You shall not go up; go around to their rear, and come upon them opposite the balsam trees.

24 When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then be on the alert; for then the Lord has gone out before you to strike down the army of the Philistines."

25 David did just as the Lord had commanded him; and he struck down the Philistines from Geba all the way to Gezer.

1 David again gathered all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand.

2 David and all the people with him set out and went from Baale-judah, to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the name of the Lord of hosts who is enthroned on the cherubim.

3 They carried the ark of God on a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were driving the new cart

4 with the ark of God; and Ahio went in front of the ark.

5 David and all the house of Israel were dancing before the Lord with all their might, with songs and lyres and harps and tambourines and castanets and cymbals.

6 When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen shook it.

7 The anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah; and God struck him there because he reached out his hand to the ark; and he died there beside the ark of God.

8 David was angry because the Lord had burst forth with an outburst upon Uzzah; so that place is called Perez-uzzah, to this day.

9 David was afraid of the Lord that day; he said, "How can the ark of the Lord come into my care?"

10 So David was unwilling to take the ark of the Lord into his care in the city of David; instead David took it to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.

11 The ark of the Lord remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite three months; and the Lord blessed Obed-edom and all his household.

12 It was told King David, "The Lord has blessed the household of Obed-edom and all that belongs to him, 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 rejoicing;

13 and when those who bore the ark of the Lord had gone six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fatling.

14 David danced before the Lord with all his might; David was girded with a linen ephod.

15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.

16 As the ark of the Lord came into the city of David, Michal daughter of Saul looked out of the window, and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord; and she despised him in her heart.

17 They brought in the ark of the Lord, and set it in its place, inside the tent that David had pitched for it; and David offered burnt offerings and offerings of well-being before the Lord.

18 When David had finished offering the burnt offerings and the offerings of well-being, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts,

19 and distributed food among all the people, the whole multitude of Israel, both men and women, to each a cake of bread, a portion of meat, and a cake of raisins. Then all the people went back to their homes.

20 David returned to bless his household. But Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, "How the king of Israel honored himself today, uncovering himself today before the eyes of his servants' maids, as any vulgar fellow might shamelessly uncover himself!"

21 David said to Michal, "It was before the Lord, who chose me in place of your father and all his household, to appoint me as prince over Israel, the people of the Lord, that I have danced before the Lord.

22 I will make myself yet more contemptible than this, and I will be abased in my own eyes; but by the maids of whom you have spoken, by them I shall be held in honor."

23 And Michal the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death.

1 David consulted with the commanders of the thousands and of the hundreds, with every leader.

2 David said to the whole assembly of Israel, "If it seems good to you, and if it is the will of the Lord our God, let us send abroad to our kindred who remain in all the land of Israel, including the priests and Levites in the cities that have pasture lands, that they may come together to us.

3 Then let us bring again the ark of our God to us; for we did not turn to it in the days of Saul."

4 The whole assembly agreed to do so, for the thing pleased all the people.

5 So David assembled all Israel from the Shihor of Egypt to Lebo-hamath, to bring the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim.

6 And David and all Israel went up to Baalah, that is, to Kiriath-jearim, which belongs to Judah, to bring up from there the ark of God, the Lord, who is enthroned on the cherubim, which is called by his name.

7 They carried the ark of God on a new cart, from the house of Abinadab, and Uzzah and Ahio were driving the cart.

8 David and all Israel were dancing before God with all their might, with song and lyres and harps and tambourines and cymbals and trumpets.

9 When they came to the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzzah put out his hand to hold the ark, for the oxen shook it.

10 The anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah; he struck him down because he put out his hand to the ark; and he died there before God.

11 David was angry because the Lord had burst out against Uzzah; so that place is called Perez-uzzah to this day.

12 David was afraid of God that day; he said, "How can I bring the ark of God into my care?"

13 So David did not take the ark into his care into the city of David; he took it instead to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.

14 The ark of God remained with the household of Obed-edom in his house three months, and the Lord blessed the household of Obed-edom and all that he had.

1 King Hiram of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with cedar logs, and masons and carpenters to build a house for him.

2 David then perceived that the Lord had established him as king over Israel, and that his kingdom was highly exalted for the sake of his people Israel.

3 David took more wives in Jerusalem, and David became the father of more sons and daughters.

4 These are the names of the children whom he had in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, and Nathan; Solomon,

5 Ibhar, Elishua, and Elpelet;

6 Nogah, Nepheg, and Japhia;

7 Elishama, Beeliada, and Eliphelet.

8 When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, all the Philistines went up in search of David; and David heard of it and went out against them.

9 Now the Philistines had come and made a raid in the valley of Rephaim.

10 David inquired of God, "Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you give them into my hand?" The Lord said to him, "Go up, and I will give them into your hand."

11 So he went up to Baal-perazim, and David defeated them there. David said, "God has burst out against my enemies by my hand, like a bursting flood." Therefore that place is called Baal-perazim.

12 They abandoned their gods there, and at David's command they were burned.

13 Once again the Philistines made a raid in the valley.

14 When David again inquired of God, God said to him, "You shall not go up after them; go around and come on them opposite the balsam trees.

15 When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then go out to battle; for God has gone out before you to strike down the army of the Philistines."

16 David did as God had commanded him, and they struck down the Philistine army from Gibeon to Gezer.

17 The fame of David went out into all lands, and the Lord brought the fear of him on all nations.

1 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 commanded that no one but the Levites were to carry the ark of God, for the Lord had chosen them to carry the ark of the Lord and to minister to him forever.

3 David assembled all Israel in Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the Lord to its place, which he had prepared for it.

4 Then David gathered together the descendants of Aaron and the Levites:

5 of the sons of Kohath, Uriel the chief, with one hundred twenty of his kindred;

6 of the sons of Merari, Asaiah the chief, with two hundred twenty of his kindred;

7 of the sons of Gershom, Joel the chief, with one hundred thirty of his kindred;

8 of the sons of Elizaphan, Shemaiah the chief, with two hundred of his kindred;

9 of the sons of Hebron, Eliel the chief, with eighty of his kindred;

10 of the sons of Uzziel, Amminadab the chief, with one hundred twelve of his kindred.

11 David summoned the priests Zadok and Abiathar, and the Levites Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab.

12 He said to them, "You are the heads of families of the Levites; sanctify yourselves, you and your kindred, so that you may bring up the ark of the Lord, the God of Israel, to the place that I have prepared for it.

13 Because you did not carry it the first time, the Lord our God burst out against us, because we did not give it proper care."

14 So the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of the Lord, the God of Israel.

15 And the Levites carried the ark of God on their shoulders with the poles, as Moses had commanded according to the word of the Lord.

16 David also commanded the chiefs of the Levites to appoint their kindred as the singers to play on musical instruments, on harps and lyres and cymbals, to raise loud sounds of joy.

17 So the Levites appointed Heman son of Joel; and of his kindred Asaph son of Berechiah; and of the sons of Merari, their kindred, Ethan son of Kushaiah;

18 and with them their kindred of the second order, Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, and Mikneiah, and the gatekeepers Obed-edom and Jeiel.

19 The singers Heman, Asaph, and Ethan were to sound bronze cymbals;

20 Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah were to play harps according to Alamoth;

21 but Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah were to lead with lyres according to the Sheminith.

22 Chenaniah, leader of the Levites in music, was to direct the music, for he understood it.

23 Berechiah and Elkanah were to be gatekeepers for the ark.

24 Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer, the priests, were to blow the trumpets before the ark of God. Obed-edom and Jehiah also were to be gatekeepers for the ark.

25 So David and the elders of Israel, and the commanders of the thousands, went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord from the house of Obed-edom with rejoicing.

26 And because God helped the Levites who were carrying the ark of the covenant of the Lord, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams.

27 David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, as also were all the Levites who were carrying the ark, and the singers, and Chenaniah the leader of the music of the singers; and David wore a linen ephod.

28 So all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the Lord with shouting, to the sound of the horn, trumpets, and cymbals, and made loud music on harps and lyres.

29 As the ark of the covenant of the Lord came to the city of David, Michal daughter of Saul looked out of the window, and saw King David leaping and dancing; and she despised him in her heart.

1 They brought in the ark of God, and set it inside the tent that David had pitched for it; and they offered burnt offerings and offerings of well-being before God.

2 When David had finished offering the burnt offerings and the offerings of well-being, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord;

3 and he distributed to every person in Israel—man and woman alike—to each a loaf of bread, a portion of meat, and a cake of raisins.

4 He appointed certain of the Levites as ministers before the ark of the Lord, to invoke, to thank, and to praise the Lord, the God of Israel.

5 Asaph was the chief, and second to him Zechariah, Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-edom, and Jeiel, with harps and lyres; Asaph was to sound the cymbals,

6 and the priests Benaiah and Jahaziel were to blow trumpets regularly, before the ark of the covenant of God.

7 Then on that day David first appointed the singing of praises to the Lord by Asaph and his kindred.

8 O give thanks to the Lord, call on his name, make known his deeds among the peoples.

9 Sing to him, sing praises to him, tell of all his wonderful works.

10 Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.

11 Seek the Lord and his strength, seek his presence continually.

12 Remember the wonderful works he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he uttered,

13 O offspring of his servant Israel, children of Jacob, his chosen ones.

14 He is the Lord our God; his judgments are in all the earth.

15 Remember his covenant forever, the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations,

16 the covenant that he made with Abraham, his sworn promise to Isaac,

17 which he confirmed to Jacob as a statute, to Israel as an everlasting covenant,

18 saying, "To you I will give the land of Canaan as your portion for an inheritance."

19 When they were few in number, of little account, and strangers in the land,

20 wandering from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another people,

21 he allowed no one to oppress them; he rebuked kings on their account,

22 saying, "Do not touch my anointed ones; do my prophets no harm."

23 Sing to the Lord, all the earth. Tell of his salvation from day to day.

24 Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples.

25 For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; he is to be revered 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 Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.

29 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering, and come before him. Worship the Lord in holy splendor;

30 tremble before him, all the earth. The world is firmly established; it shall never be moved.

31 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice, and let them say among the nations, "The Lord is king!"

32 Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it.

33 Then shall the trees of the forest sing for joy before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth.

34 O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever.

35 Say also: "Save us, O God of our salvation, and gather and rescue us from among the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name, and glory in your praise.

36 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting." Then all the people said "Amen!" and praised the Lord.

37 David left Asaph and his kinsfolk there before the ark of the covenant of the Lord to minister regularly before the ark as each day required,

38 and also Obed-edom and his sixty-eight kinsfolk; while Obed-edom son of Jeduthun and Hosah were to be gatekeepers.

39 And he left the priest Zadok and his kindred the priests before the tabernacle of the Lord in the high place that was at Gibeon,

40 to offer burnt offerings to the Lord on the altar of burnt offering regularly, morning and evening, according to all that is written in the law of the Lord that he commanded Israel.

41 With them were Heman and Jeduthun, and the rest of those chosen and expressly named to render thanks to the Lord, for his steadfast love endures forever.

42 Heman and Jeduthun had with them trumpets and cymbals for the music, and instruments for sacred song. The sons of Jeduthun were appointed to the gate.

43 Then all the people departed to their homes, and David went home to bless his household.