1 Chronicles 13–16

1Then David conferred with all his leaders, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds.

2And he said to the whole assembly of Israel, “If it seems good to you, and if this is of the LORD our God, let us send word far and wide to the rest of our brothers in all the land of Israel, and also to the priests and Levites in their cities and pasturelands, so that they may join us.

3Then let us bring back the ark of our God, for we did not inquire of Him in the days of Saul.”

4And because this proposal seemed right to all the people, the whole assembly agreed to it.

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

6David and all Israel went up to Baalah of Judah (that is, Kiriath-jearim) to bring up from there the ark of God the LORD, who is enthroned between the cherubim—the ark that is called by the Name.

7So they carried the ark of God from the house of Abinadab on a new cart, with Uzzah and Ahio guiding the cart.

8David and all the Israelites were celebrating before God with all their might, with songs and on harps and lyres, with tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets.

9When they came to the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark, because the oxen had stumbled.

10And the anger of the LORD burned against Uzzah, and He struck him down because he had put his hand on the ark. So he died there before God.

11Then David became angry because the LORD had burst forth against Uzzah. So he named that place Perez-uzzah, as it is called to this day.

12That day David feared God and asked, “How can I ever bring the ark of God to me?”

13So he did not move the ark with him to the City of David; instead, he took it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.

14Thus the ark of God remained with the family of Obed-edom in his house for three months, and the LORD blessed his household and everything he owned.

1Now Hiram king of Tyre sent envoys to David, along with cedar logs, stonemasons, and carpenters, to build a palace for him.

2And David realized that the LORD had established him as king over Israel and had highly exalted his kingdom for the sake of His people Israel.

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

4These are the names of the children born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,

5Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet,

6Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia,

7Elishama, Beeliada, and Eliphelet.

8When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, they all went in search of him; but David learned of this and went out to face them.

9Now the Philistines had come and raided the Valley of Rephaim.

10So David inquired of God, “Should I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?” “Go,” replied the LORD, “for I will deliver them into your hand.”

11So David and his men went up to Baal-perazim, where he defeated the Philistines and said, “Like a bursting flood, God has burst out against my enemies by my hand.” So they called that place Baal-perazim.

12There the Philistines abandoned their gods, and David ordered that they be burned in the fire.

13Once again the Philistines raided the valley.

14So David again inquired of God, who answered him, “Do not march up after them, but circle around them and attack them in front of the balsam trees.

15As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move out to battle, because this will mean that God has gone out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.”

16So David did as God had commanded him, and they struck down the army of the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.

17And David’s fame went out into every land, and the LORD caused all nations to fear him.

1David constructed buildings for himself in the City of David, and he prepared a place for the ark of God and pitched a tent for it.

2Then David said, “No one but the Levites may carry the ark of God, because the LORD has chosen them to carry the ark of the LORD and to minister before Him forever.”

3And David assembled all Israel in Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the LORD to the place he had prepared for it.

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

5From the Kohathites, Uriel the chief and 120 of his relatives;

6from the Merarites, Asaiah the chief and 220 of his relatives;

7from the Gershomites, Joel the chief and 130 of his relatives;

8from the Elizaphanites, Shemaiah the chief and 200 of his relatives;

9from the Hebronites, Eliel the chief and 80 of his relatives;

10and from the Uzzielites, Amminadab the chief and 112 of his relatives.

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

12And he said to them, “You are the heads of the Levitical families. You and your relatives must consecrate yourselves so that you may bring the ark of the LORD, the God of Israel, to the place I have prepared for it.

13It was because you Levites were not with us the first time that the LORD our God burst forth in anger against us. For we did not consult Him about the proper order.”

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

15And the Levites carried the ark of God on their shoulders with the poles, as Moses had commanded in accordance with the word of the LORD.

16David also told the leaders of the Levites to appoint their relatives as singers to lift up their voices with joy, accompanied by musical instruments—harps, lyres, and cymbals.

17So the Levites appointed Heman son of Joel; from his brothers, Asaph son of Berechiah; from their brothers the Merarites, Ethan son of Kushaiah;

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

19The musicians Heman, Asaph, and Ethan were to sound the bronze cymbals.

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

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

22Chenaniah the head Levite was the director of the music because he was highly skilled.

23Berechiah and Elkanah were to be guardians of the ark.

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

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

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

27Now David was dressed in a robe of fine linen, as were all the Levites who were carrying the ark, as well as the singers and Chenaniah, the director of music for the singers. David also wore a linen ephod.

28So all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the LORD with shouting, with the sounding of rams’ horns and trumpets, and with cymbals and the music of harps and lyres.

29As the ark of the covenant of the LORD was entering the City of David, Saul’s daughter Michal looked down from a window and saw King David dancing and celebrating, and she despised him in her heart.

1So they brought the ark of God and placed it inside the tent that David had pitched for it. And they presented burnt offerings and peace offerings before God.

2When David had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD.

3Then he distributed to every man and woman of Israel a loaf of bread, a date cake, and a raisin cake.

4David appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of the LORD, to celebrate, to give thanks, and to praise the LORD, the God of Israel.

5Asaph was the chief, Zechariah was second, then Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-edom, and Jeiel. They were to play the harps and lyres, while Asaph sounded the cymbals

6and the priests Benaiah and Jahaziel blew the trumpets regularly before the ark of the covenant of God.

7On that day David first committed to Asaph and his associates this song of thanksgiving to the LORD:

8“Give thanks to the LORD; call upon His name; make known His deeds among the nations.

9Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; tell of all His wonders.

10Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.

11Seek out the LORD and His strength; seek His face always.

12Remember the wonders He has done, His marvels, and the judgments He has pronounced,

13O offspring of His servant Israel, O sons of Jacob, His chosen ones.

14He is the LORD our God; His judgments carry throughout the earth.

15Remember His covenant forever, the word He ordained for a thousand generations—

16the covenant He made with Abraham, and the oath He swore to Isaac.

17He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree, to Israel as an everlasting covenant:

18‘I will give you the land of Canaan as the portion of your inheritance.’

19When they were few in number, few indeed, and strangers in the land,

20they wandered from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another.

21He let no man oppress them; He rebuked kings on their behalf:

22‘Do not touch My anointed ones! Do no harm to My prophets!’

23Sing to the LORD, all the earth. Proclaim His salvation day after day.

24Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples.

25For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods.

26For all the gods of the nations are idols, but it is the LORD who made the heavens.

27Splendor and majesty are before Him; strength and joy fill His dwelling.

28Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the nations, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.

29Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name; bring an offering and come before Him. Worship the LORD in the splendor of His holiness;

30tremble before Him, all the earth. The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved.

31Let the heavens be glad, and the earth rejoice. Let them say among the nations, ‘The LORD reigns!’

32Let the sea resound, and all that fills it; let the fields exult, and all that is in them.

33Then the trees of the forest will sing for joy before the LORD, for He is coming to judge the earth.

34Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His loving devotion endures forever.

35Then cry out: ‘Save us, O God of our salvation; gather and deliver us from the nations, that we may give thanks to Your holy name, that we may glory in Your praise.’

36Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting.” Then all the people said, “Amen!” and “Praise the LORD!”

37So David left Asaph and his associates there before the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to minister there regularly according to the daily requirements,

38along with Obed-edom and his sixty-eight relatives. Obed-edom son of Jeduthun, and also Hosah, were to be gatekeepers.

39And David left Zadok the priest and his fellow priests before the tabernacle of the LORD at the high place in Gibeon

40to regularly present burnt offerings to the LORD on the altar of burnt offerings, morning and evening, according to all that was written in the Law of the LORD, which He had commanded Israel to keep.

41With them were Heman, Jeduthun, and the rest of those chosen and designated by name to give thanks to the LORD, for “His loving devotion endures forever.”

42Heman and Jeduthun had with them trumpets and cymbals for the music and instruments for the songs of God. And the sons of Jeduthun were stationed at the gate.

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