Study Desk

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

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.

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."

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.

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.

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."

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

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.

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.

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.

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."

So the priests and the Levites sanctified 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 according to 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 also were to be gatekeepers for the ark.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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.