Study Desk

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

David 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.

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

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

And 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.

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

Thus 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.

So 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."

So 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.

So 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.

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

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

David 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.

Then 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."

And 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.

It 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."

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

And 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.

Shebaniah, 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.

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