Study Desk

For some time now, even when Saul was king, you were the one who led the army of Israel in battle. And Yahweh your God said to you, ‘You will shepherd my people Israel and will be leader over my people Israel.'"

And he said, "Far be it from me that I would do this before my God. Shall I drink the lifeblood of these men? For at the risk of their lives they brought it." And he was not willing to drink it. These things the three mighty men did.

And David went out to meet them and answered and said to them, "If you come in peace to me, to help me, my heart will be joined with you, but if you come to betray me to my adversaries, although there is no wrong on my hands, may the God of our fathers see and pass judgment."

Then the Spirit came upon Amasai, chief of the thirty who said: "We are yours, O David! And we are with you, O son of Jesse! Peace! Peace to you, and peace to those who help you, for your God helps you." So David appointed them as heads of the troops.

Day in and day out they came to David to help him until there was a great army, like the army of God.

And David said to all the assembly of Israel, "If it seems good to you and before Yahweh our God, let us send word abroad 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.

Then let us bring around the ark of our God to us, for we did not seek it in the days of Saul."

And David summoned all Israel from Shihor of Egypt up to Lebo-Hamath to bring the ark of God from Kiriath-Jearim.

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.

And they carried the ark of God upon a new cart from the house of Abinadab, and Uzza and Ahio were driving the cart.

Now David and all Israel were celebrating before God with all their strength, and with songs, lyres, harps, tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets.

And Yahweh was angry with Uzza, and he struck him down because he reached his hand upon the ark. And he died there before God.

And David feared God on that day, saying, "How can I bring the ark of God home to me?"

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.

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."

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.

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.

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."

And David did as God commanded him, and they struck the camp of the Philistines from Gibeon to Gezer.

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.