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

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2 Samuel 5

1 All the Israelite tribes came to David at Hebron and said, "Listen: We are your very own flesh and bone.

2 In the past, when Saul ruled over us, you were the one who led Israel out to war and back. What's more, the LORD told you, You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will be Israel's leader.

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

4 David was 30 years old when he became king, and he ruled for forty years.

5 He ruled over Judah for seven and a half years in Hebron. He ruled thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah in Jerusalem.

6 The king and his troops marched on Jerusalem against the Jebusites, who inhabited the territory. The Jebusites said to David, "You'll never get us in here! Even the blind and the lame will beat you back!""David will never enter here," they said to each other.

7 But David did capture the fortress of Zion—which became David's City.

8 "On that day," David said, "whoever attacks the Jebusites should strike the windpipe because David hates the lame and the blind." That is why people say, "The blind and the lame will not enter the temple."

9 David occupied the fortress, so it was renamed David's City. David built a city around it from the earthen terraces inward.

10 David grew increasingly powerful, and the LORD of heavenly forces was with him.

11 Tyre's King Hiram sent messengers to David with cedar logs, bricklayers, and carpenters to build David a palace.

12 Then David knew that the LORD had established him as king over Israel, and that his kingship was held in great honor for the sake of his people Israel.

13 After he left Hebron, David married more secondary wives in Jerusalem and fathered more sons and daughters.

14 The names of his children in Jerusalem were as follows: 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, they all marched up to find him, but David heard of it and went down to the fortress.

18 The Philistines arrived and spread out over the Rephaim Valley.

19 David asked the LORD, "Should I attack the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?" "Attack them," the LORD replied, "because I will definitely hand the Philistines over to you."

20 So David arrived at Baal-perazim and defeated the Philistines there. He said, "The LORD has burst out against my enemies, the way water bursts out!" That is why that place is called Baal-perazim.

21 The Philistines left their divine images behind, and David and his men carried them off.

22 Once again the Philistines came up and spread out across the Rephaim Valley.

23 When David asked the LORD, God replied, "Don't attack them directly. Circle around behind them and come at them from in front of the balsam trees.

24 As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the trees, then attack, for God has attacked in front of you to defeat the Philistine army."

25 David followed God's orders exactly, and they defeated the Philistine army from Gibeon all the way to Gezer.

2 Samuel 6

1 Once again David assembled the select warriors of Israel, thirty thousand strong.

2 David and all the troops who were with him set out for Baalah, which is Kiriath-jearim of Judah, to bring God's chest up from there—the chest that is called by the name of the LORD of heavenly forces, who sits enthroned on the winged creatures.

3 They loaded God's chest on a new cart and carried it from Abinadab's house, which was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, Abinadab's sons, were driving the new cart.

4 Uzzah was beside God's chest while Ahio was walking in front of it.

5 Meanwhile, David and the entire house of Israel celebrated in the LORD's presence with all their strength, with songs, zithers, harps, tambourines, rattles, and cymbals.

6 When they approached Nacon's threshing floor, Uzzah reached out to God's chest and grabbed it because the oxen had stumbled.

7 The LORD became angry at Uzzah, and God struck him there because of his mistake, and he died there next to God's chest.

8 Then David got angry because the LORD's anger lashed out against Uzzah, and so that place is called Perez-uzzah today.

9 David was frightened by the LORD that day. "How will I ever bring the LORD's chest to me?" he asked.

10 So David didn't take the chest away with him to David's City. Instead, he had it put in the house of Obed-edom, who was from Gath.

11 The LORD's chest stayed with Obed-edom's household in Gath for three months, and the LORD blessed Obed-edom's household and all that he had.

12 King David was told, "The LORD has blessed Obed-edom's family and everything he has because of God's chest being there." So David went and brought God's chest up from Obed-edom's house to David's City with celebration.

13 Whenever those bearing the chest advanced six steps, David sacrificed an ox and a fatling calf.

14 David, dressed in a linen priestly vest, danced with all his strength before the LORD.

15 This is how David and the entire house of Israel brought up the LORD's chest with shouts and trumpet blasts.

16 As the LORD's chest entered David's City, Saul's daughter Michal was watching from a window. She saw King David jumping and dancing before the LORD, and she lost all respect for him.

17 The LORD's chest was brought in and put in its place inside the tent that David had pitched for it. Then David offered entirely burned offerings in the LORD's presence in addition to well-being sacrifices.

18 When David finished offering the entirely burned offerings and the well-being sacrifices, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of heavenly forces.

19 He distributed food among all the people of Israel—to the whole crowd, male and female—each receiving a loaf of bread, a date cake, and a raisin cake. Then all the people went back to their homes.

20 David went home to bless his household, but Saul's daughter Michal came out to meet him. "How did Israel's king honor himself today?" she said. "By exposing himself in plain view of the female servants of his subjects like any indecent person would!"

21 David replied to Michal, "I was celebrating before the LORD, who chose me over your father and his entire family, and who appointed me leader over the LORD's people, over Israel—and I will celebrate before the LORD again!

22 I may humiliate myself even more, and I may be humbled in my own eyes, but I will be honored by the female servants you are talking about!"

23 Michal, Saul's daughter, had no children to the day she died.

1 Chronicles 13

1 After consulting with the captains of the units of a thousand and a hundred, in fact with every leader,

2 David said to the entire Israelite assembly: "If you approve, and if the LORD our God agrees, let's spread the word to the rest of our relatives in all the regions of Israel, including the priests and Levites in their cities with pasturelands. Let's ask them to join us

3 so that we may bring the chest of our God back to us, because we didn't look for it in Saul's days."

4 The whole assembly agreed to do so, because all the people thought it was the right thing to do.

5 So David assembled all Israel, from the border of Egypt to Lebo-hamath in order to bring up God's chest from Kiriath-jearim.

6 Then David and all Israel went up toward Baalah, to Kiriath-jearim, which belongs to Judah, to bring up from there the chest of God, the LORD, who sits enthroned on the winged creatures, where he is called by name.

7 They moved God's chest on a new cart from Abinadab's house. Uzzah and Ahio were guiding the cart,

8 while David and all Israel celebrated in God's presence with all their strength, accompanied by songs, zithers, harps, tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets.

9 When they came to Chidon's threshing floor, Uzzah reached out to the chest and grabbed it because the oxen had stumbled.

10 But the LORD became angry with Uzzah and struck him because he had placed his hand on the chest. He died right there before God.

11 David was angry that the LORD lashed out at Uzzah; and so that place is still called Perez-uzzah today.

12 David was frightened by God that day. "How will I ever bring God's chest home to me?" he asked.

13 So David didn't take the chest away with him to David's City. Instead, he had it put in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.

14 God's chest stayed with Obed-edom's household for three months, and the LORD blessed Obed-edom's household and all that he had.

1 Chronicles 14

1 Tyre's King Hiram sent messengers to David with cedar logs, bricklayers, and carpenters to build David a palace.

2 Then David knew that the LORD had established him as king over Israel, and that his kingship was held in great honor for the sake of his people Israel.

3 David married more secondary wives in Jerusalem and fathered more sons and daughters.

4 The names of his children in Jerusalem were as follows: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,

5 Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet,

6 Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia,

7 Elishama, Beeliada, and Eliphelet.

8 When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, they all marched up to find him. David heard this and went out to confront them.

9 The Philistines had invaded and were plundering the Rephaim Valley.

10 David asked God for advice: "Should I attack the Philistines, and will you hand them over to me?" The LORD answered, "Attack them, and I'll definitely hand them over to you."

11 So they marched up to Baal-perazim, and David defeated them there. "By my strength," David exclaimed, "God has burst out against my enemies, the way water bursts out." That's why the place is called Baal-perazim.

12 The Philistines left their divine images behind, and David ordered them burned.

13 When the Philistines plundered the valley a second time,

14 David again asked God's advice, but God answered, "Don't attack them directly. Circle around behind them and come at them from in front of the balsam trees.

15 As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the trees, then attack, for God has attacked in front of you to defeat the Philistine army."

16 David followed God's orders exactly, and they defeated the Philistine army from Gibeon all the way to Gezer.

17 David's fame spread throughout all lands, and the LORD made all the nations fear him.

1 Chronicles 15

1 After he had built houses for himself in David's City, David prepared a place for God's chest and pitched a tent for it.

2 David said, "Only the Levites may carry God's chest, because the LORD has chosen them to carry the LORD's chest and to minister to him forever."

3 David assembled all Israel in Jerusalem to bring the LORD's chest to the place he had prepared for it.

4 David also gathered Aaron's family and the Levites:

5 Uriel, the leader of Kohath's family, and 120 of his relatives;

6 Asaiah, the leader of Merari's family, and 220 of his relatives;

7 Joel, the leader of Gershom's family, and 130 of his relatives;

8 Shemaiah, the leader of Elizaphan's family, and 200 of his relatives;

9 Eliel, the leader of Hebron's family, and 80 of his relatives;

10 and Amminadab, the leader of Uzziel's family, and 112 of his relatives.

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

12 He said to them, "You are the household heads of the Levites. Make yourselves holy, you and your brothers, and then bring the chest of the LORD, Israel's God, to the place I've prepared for it.

13 When you weren't with us the first time, the LORD our God burst out against us because we didn't ask his advice properly."

14 So the priests and the Levites made themselves holy to bring up the chest of the LORD, Israel's God.

15 The Levites carried God's chest with poles on their shoulders, just as Moses had commanded according to the LORD's word.

16 Then David told the leaders of the Levites to appoint some of their relatives as singers to raise their voices joyfully, accompanied by musical instruments, including harps, lyres, and cymbals.

17 So the Levites appointed Heman, Joel's son; and from his relatives, Asaph, Berechiah's son; and from their Merarite relatives, Ethan, Kushaiah's son;

18 and second in rank with them their relatives: Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, and Obed-edom and Jeiel the gatekeepers.

19 The singers Heman, Asaph, and Ethan were to make music with bronze cymbals.

20 Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah were to play harps tuned to the Alamoth.

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

22 Chenaniah was leader of the Levites who provided transportation, because he was skilled at it.

23 Berechiah and Elkanah were gatekeepers for the chest.

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

25 Then David, along with Israel's elders and the captains of the thousands, went with rejoicing to bring up the chest containing the LORD's covenant from Obed-edom's house.

26 Since God had helped the Levites who were carrying the chest containing the LORD's covenant, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams.

27 David wore a fine-linen robe, as did the singers, all the Levites who were carrying the chest, and Chenaniah, the leader of transportation. David also wore a linen priestly vest.

28 So all Israel brought up the chest containing the LORD's covenant with shouts of joy, accompanied by the blast of the ram's horn, by trumpets and cymbals, and playing on harps and lyres.

29 As the chest containing the LORD's covenant entered David's City, Michal, Saul's daughter, looked out the window. When she saw King David leaping and dancing, she lost all respect for him.

1 Chronicles 16

1 They brought in God's chest and placed it inside the tent David had pitched for it. Then they brought entirely burned offerings and well-being sacrifices before God.

2 When David had finished offering the entirely burned offerings and the well-being sacrifices, he blessed the people in the LORD's name

3 and distributed a loaf of bread, a piece of meat, and a raisin cake to every Israelite man and woman.

4 David appointed some of the Levites to serve before the LORD's chest in order to remember, to give thanks, and to praise the LORD, Israel's God:

5 Asaph was the leader, and Zechariah his assistant; also Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-edom, and Jeiel with harps and lyres; Asaph sounding the cymbals;

6 and the priests Benaiah and Jahaziel blowing trumpets regularly before the chest containing God's covenant.

7 On the same day, for the first time, David ordered Asaph and his relatives to give thanks to the LORD.

8 Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make his deeds known to all people!

9 Sing to God, sing praises to him; dwell on all his wondrous works!

10 Give praise to God's holy name! Let the hearts rejoice of all those seeking the LORD!

11 Pursue the LORD and his strength; seek his face always!

12 Remember the wondrous works he has done, all his marvelous works, and the justice he declared—

13 you who are the offspring of Israel, his servant, and the children of Jacob, his chosen ones.

14 The LORD—he is our God. His justice is everywhere throughout the whole world.

15 God remembers his covenant forever, the word he commanded to a thousand generations,

16 which he made with Abraham, the solemn pledge he swore to Isaac.

17 God set it up as binding law for Jacob, as an eternal covenant for Israel,

18 promising, "I hereby give you the land of Canaan as your allotted inheritance."

19 When they were few in number— insignificant, just immigrants—

20 wandering from nation to nation, from one kingdom to the next,

21 God didn't let anyone oppress them. God punished kings for their sake:

22 "Don't touch my anointed ones; don't harm my prophets!"

23 Sing to the LORD, all the earth! Share the news of his saving work every single day!

24 Declare God's glory among the nations; declare his wondrous works among all people

25 because the LORD is great and so worthy of praise. He is awesome beyond all other gods

26 because all the gods of the nations are just idols, but it is the LORD who created heaven!

27 Greatness and grandeur are in front of him; strength and joy are in his place.

28 Give to the LORD, all families of the nations— give to the LORD glory and power!

29 Give to the LORD the glory due his name! Bring gifts! Enter his presence! Bow down to the LORD in his holy splendor!

30 Tremble before him, all the earth! Yes, he set the world firmly in place; it won't be shaken.

31 Let heaven celebrate! Let the earth rejoice! Let the nations say, "The LORD rules!"

32 Let the sea and everything in it roar! Let the countryside and everything in it celebrate!

33 Then the trees of the forest will shout out joyfully before the LORD, because he is coming to establish justice on earth!

34 Give thanks to the LORD because he is good, because his faithful love endures forever.

35 Say: "Save us, God, our savior! Gather us! Deliver us from among the nations so we can give thanks to your holy name and rejoice in your praise."

36 Bless the LORD, Israel's God, from forever in the past to forever always. And let all the people say, "Amen!" Praise the LORD!

37 Then David placed Asaph and his relatives, together with Obed-edom and sixty-eight of his relatives, to minister there continually before the chest containing the LORD's covenant, following the routines required on each day.

38 Obed-edom, Jeduthun's son, and Hosah served as gatekeepers.

39 David also placed the priest Zadok and his other priestly relatives at the LORD's dwelling at the shrine in Gibeon.

40 They were to offer continually, both morning and evening, entirely burned offerings to the LORD on the altar for entirely burned offerings, following the written requirements in the LORD's Instruction, which he had given Israel.

41 With them were Heman and Jeduthun and the rest of those chosen by name to give thanks to the LORD, because his faithful love lasts forever.

42 With them were also the trumpets and the cymbals for the musicians and the instruments for God's songs. Jeduthun's family was at the gate.

43 Then all of the people left for their homes. And David returned to bless his household.