Study Desk

Now David built houses for himself in the city of David; and he prepared a place for the ark of God and ^(C1)pitched a tent for it.

Then David said, "^(C1)No one is to carry the ark of God except the Levites; for the LORD chose them to carry the ark of the LORD and to serve Him forever."

And ^(C1)David assembled all Israel at Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the LORD ^(C2)to its place which he had prepared for it.

David gathered together the sons of Aaron and ^(C1)the Levites:

of the sons of Kohath, Uriel the chief, and 120 of his relatives;

of the sons of Merari, Asaiah the chief, and 220 of his relatives;

of the sons of Gershom, Joel the chief, and 130 of his relatives;

of the sons of Elizaphan, Shemaiah the chief, and two hundred of his relatives;

of the sons of Hebron, Eliel the chief, and eighty of his relatives;

of the sons of Uzziel, Amminadab the chief, and 112 of his relatives.

Then David called for the priests ^(C1)Zadok and ^(C2)Abiathar, and for the Levites, for Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab;

and he said to them, "You are the heads of the fathers' households of the Levites; ^(C1)consecrate yourselves, you and your relatives, so that you may bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel ^(C2)to the place that I have prepared for it.

"^(C1)Because you did not carry it at the first, the LORD our God made an outburst against us, since we did not seek Him according to the ordinance."

^(C1)So the priests and the Levites consecrated themselves to bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel.

The sons of ^(C1)the Levites carried the ark of God on their shoulders with the poles on them, just as Moses had commanded in accordance with the word of the LORD.

Then David spoke to the chiefs of the Levites ^(C1)to appoint their relatives as the singers, with musical instruments, harps, lyres, and cymbals, playing to raise sounds of joy.

So ^(C1)the Levites appointed Heman the son of Joel, and from his relatives, Asaph the son of Berechiah; and from the sons of Merari their relatives, Ethan the son of Kushaiah,

and with them their relatives of the second rank, Zechariah, ^(F1)Ben, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-edom, and Jeiel, the gatekeepers.

So the singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, were appointed to sound aloud cymbals of bronze;

and Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah, with harps tuned to ^(F1)alamoth;

and Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah, to lead with lyres tuned to ^(F1)the sheminith.

Chenaniah, chief of the Levites, was in charge of the singing; he gave instruction in singing because he was skillful.

Berechiah and Elkanah were gatekeepers for the ark.

Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer, the priests, ^(C1)blew the trumpets before the ark of God. Obed-edom and Jehiah also were gatekeepers for the ark.

^(C1)So it was David, with the elders of Israel and the captains of thousands, who went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD from ^(C2)the house of Obed-edom with joy.

Because God was helping the Levites who were carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD, they sacrificed ^(C1)seven bulls and seven rams.

Now David was clothed with a robe of fine linen with all the Levites who were carrying the ark, and the singers, and Chenaniah the leader of the singing with the singers. ^(C1)David also wore an ephod of linen.

So all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the horn, with trumpets, with loud-sounding cymbals, with harps, and lyres.

When the ark of the covenant of the LORD came to the city of David, ^(C1)Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David dancing and celebrating; and she despised him in her heart.

And they brought in the ark of God and ^(C1)placed it inside the tent which David had pitched for it, and they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before God.

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

Then he distributed to everyone of Israel, both men and women, to everyone a loaf of bread, a portion of meat, and a raisin cake.

He appointed some of the Levites as ministers before the ark of the LORD, to celebrate and to thank and praise the LORD God of Israel:

Asaph the chief, and second to him Zechariah, then ^(F1)Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-edom, and Jeiel, with musical instruments, harps, and lyres; also Asaph played loud-sounding cymbals,

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

Then on that day David ^(C1)first assigned ^(F1)Asaph and his relatives to give thanks to the LORD.

^(C1)Give thanks to the LORD, call upon His name; ^(C2)Make His deeds known among the peoples.

Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; ^(F1)Speak of all His ^(F2)wonders.

Boast in His holy name; Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be joyful.

^(C1)Seek the LORD and His strength; Seek His face continually.

^(C1)Remember His wonderful deeds which He has done, ^(C2)His marvels and the judgments from His mouth,

You ^(F1)descendants of Israel His servant, Sons of Jacob, His chosen ones!

He is the LORD our God; ^(C1)His judgments are in all the earth.

Remember His covenant forever, The word which He commanded to a thousand generations,

^(C1)The covenant which He made with Abraham, And His oath to Isaac.

^(C1)He also confirmed it to Jacob as a statute, To Israel as an everlasting covenant,

Saying, "^(C1)To you I will give the land of Canaan, As the portion of your inheritance."

^(C1)When they were only a few in number, Very few, and strangers in it,

And they wandered from nation to nation, And from one kingdom to another people,

He allowed no one to oppress them, And ^(C1)He rebuked kings for their sakes, saying,

"Do not touch My anointed ones, And ^(C1)do not harm My prophets."

^(C1)Sing to the LORD, all the earth; Proclaim good news of His salvation from day to day.

Tell of His glory among the nations, His wonderful deeds among all the peoples.

For ^(C1)great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; He also is ^(C2)to be feared above all gods.

For all the gods of the peoples are ^(F1)(C1)idols, ^(C2)But the LORD made the heavens.

Splendor and majesty are before Him, Strength and joy are in His place.

Ascribe to the LORD, you families of the peoples, Ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.

Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name; Bring an ^(F1)offering, and come before Him; ^(C1)Worship the LORD in ^(F2)holy attire.

Tremble before Him, all the earth; Indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved.

^(F1)(C1)Let the heavens be joyful, and the earth rejoice; And let them say among the nations, "^(C2)The LORD reigns."

^(C1)Let the sea ^(F1)roar, and ^(F2)everything it contains; Let the field rejoice, and everything that is in it.

Then the trees of the forest will sing for joy in the presence of the LORD; For He is coming to judge the earth.

^(C1)Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; For His faithfulness is everlasting.

^(C1)Then say, "Save us, God of our salvation, And gather us and save us from the nations, To give thanks to Your holy name, And ^(F1)glory in Your praise."

^(C1)Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, From everlasting to everlasting! Then all the people ^(C2)said, "Amen," and praised the LORD.

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So he left Asaph and his relatives there ^(C1)before the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to minister before the ark continually, ^(C2)as every day's work required,

and ^(C1)Obed-edom with ^(F1)his sixty-eight relatives; Obed-edom, the son of Jeduthun, and ^(C2)Hosah as gatekeepers.

He left ^(C1)Zadok the priest and his relatives the priests ^(C2)before the ^(F1)tabernacle of the LORD in the high place which was at Gibeon,

to offer burnt offerings to the LORD on the altar of burnt offering continually morning and evening, ^(C1)even according to everything that is written in the Law of the LORD, which He commanded Israel.

With them were ^(C1)Heman and Jeduthun, and ^(C2)the rest who were chosen, who were designated by name, to ^(C3)give thanks to the LORD, because His ^(F1)kindness is everlasting.

And with them were Heman and Jeduthun with trumpets and cymbals for those who were to play them, and with instruments for ^(C1)the songs of God, and the sons of Jeduthun for the gate.

^(C1)Then all the people departed, each to his house; and David returned to bless his household.

^(C1)And it came about, when David lived in his house, that David said to Nathan the prophet, "Look, I am living in a house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of the LORD is under tent curtains."

Then Nathan said to David, "Do whatever is in your heart, for God is with you."

But it happened that same night, that the word of God came to Nathan, saying,

"Go and tell David My servant, 'This is what the LORD says: "^(C1)You shall not build a house for Me to dwell in;

for I have not dwelt in a house since the day that I brought up Israel to this day, ^(C1)but I have ^(F1)gone from tent to tent and from one dwelling place to another.

"In all places where I have walked with all Israel, have I spoken a word ^(C1)with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd My people, saying, 'Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?'"'

"Now, therefore, this is what you shall say to My servant David: 'This is what the LORD of armies says: "I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be leader over My people Israel.

"I have been with you wherever you have gone, and have eliminated all your enemies from you; and I will make for you a name like the name of the great ones who are on the earth.

"And I will appoint a place for My people Israel, and will plant them there, so that they may live in their own place and not tremble with anxiety again; and the ^(F1)wicked will not make them waste away anymore as they did previously,

even from the day that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel. And I will subdue all your enemies. Moreover, I tell you that the LORD will build a house for you.

"When your days are fulfilled that you must ^(F1)go to be with your fathers, then I will set up one of your ^(F2)descendants after you, who will be from your sons; and I will establish his kingdom.

"He shall build for Me a house, and I will establish his throne forever.

"^(C1)I will be his father and he shall be My son; and I will not take My favor away from him, ^(C2)as I took it from him who was before you.

"But I will settle him in My house and in My kingdom forever, and his throne will be established forever."'"

According to all these words and according to all of this vision, so Nathan spoke to David.

Then King David came in and sat before the LORD, and said, "^(C1)Who am I, LORD God, and what is my house that You have brought me this far?

"This was a small thing in Your eyes, God; but You have spoken of Your servant's house for a great while to come, and have viewed me according to the standard of a person of high degree, LORD God.

"What more can David still say to You concerning the honor bestowed on Your servant? For You know Your servant.

"LORD, ^(C1)for Your servant's sake, and according to Your own heart, You have accomplished all this greatness, to make known all these great things.

"LORD, there is none like You, nor is there any God besides You, according to everything that we have heard with our ears.

"And what one nation on the earth is like Your people Israel, whom God went to redeem for Himself as a people, to make for You a name by great and awesome things, by driving out nations from before Your people, whom You redeemed from Egypt?

"^(C1)For You have made Your people Israel Your own people forever, and You, LORD, became their God.

"Now, LORD, let the word that You have spoken concerning Your servant and concerning his house be established forever, and do just as You have spoken.

"Let Your name be established and be great forever, saying, 'The LORD of armies is the God of Israel, a God to Israel; and the house of Your servant David is established before You.'

"For You, my God, have revealed to Your servant that You will build him a house; therefore Your servant has found courage to pray before You.

"Now, LORD, You are God, and have ^(F1)promised this good thing to Your servant.

"And now You have decided to bless the house of Your servant, that it may ^(F1)continue forever before You; for You, LORD, have blessed, and it is blessed forever."

Now after this ^(C1)it came about that David ^(F1)defeated the Philistines and subdued them and took Gath and its towns from the hand of the Philistines.

And he defeated Moab, and the Moabites became servants to David, bringing tribute.

David also defeated Hadadezer king of Zobah as far as Hamath, as he went to establish his ^(F1)rule to the river Euphrates.

David took from him a thousand chariots and seven thousand horsemen and twenty thousand foot soldiers, and David hamstrung almost all the chariot horses, but left enough of them for a hundred chariots.

When the Arameans of ^(F1)Damascus came to help Hadadezer king ^(C1)of Zobah, David ^(F2)killed twenty-two thousand men of the Arameans.

Then David put garrisons among the Arameans of ^(F1)Damascus; and the Arameans became servants to David, bringing tribute. And the LORD helped David wherever he went.

And David took the shields of gold which were ^(F1)carried by the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.

Also from ^(F1)Tibhath and Cun, cities of Hadadezer, David took a very large amount of bronze, with which ^(C1)Solomon made the bronze ^(F2)Sea and the pillars and the bronze utensils.

Now when ^(F1)Tou king of Hamath heard that David had ^(F2)defeated all the army of Hadadezer king of Zobah,

he sent ^(F1)Hadoram his son to King David to ^(F2)greet him and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer and had ^(F3)defeated him; for Hadadezer had been at war with Tou. And Hadoram brought all kinds of articles of gold and silver and bronze.

King David also dedicated these to the LORD, with the silver and the gold which he had carried away from all the nations: from Edom, Moab, the sons of Ammon, the Philistines, and from Amalek.

Moreover, Abishai the son of Zeruiah ^(F1)defeated eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.

Then he put garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites became servants to David. And the LORD helped David wherever he went.

So David reigned over all Israel; and he ^(F1)administered justice and righteousness for all his people.

^(C1)Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the army, and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was secretary;

and Zadok the son of Ahitub and Abimelech the son of Abiathar were priests, and Shavsha was secretary;

and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites, and the sons of David were chiefs at the king's side.

^(C1)Now it came about after this, that Nahash the king of the sons of Ammon died, and his son became king in his place.

Then David said, "I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, because his father showed kindness to me." So David sent messengers to console him concerning his father. And David's servants came into the land of the sons of Ammon to Hanun to console him.

But the commanders among the sons of Ammon said to Hanun, "^(F1)Do you think that David is honoring your father, in that he has sent comforters to you? Have his servants not come to you to search, to demolish, and to spy out the land?"

So Hanun took David's servants and shaved them, and cut off their robes in the middle as far as their buttocks, and sent them away.

Then certain people went and told David about the men. And he sent messengers to meet them, because the men were very humiliated. And the king said, "Stay at Jericho until your beards grow back, then return."

When the sons of Ammon saw that they had made themselves repulsive to David, Hanun and the sons of Ammon sent ^(F1)a thousand talents of silver to hire for themselves chariots and horsemen from Mesopotamia, Aram-maacah, and ^(C1)Zobah.

So they hired for themselves thirty-two thousand chariots, and the king of Maacah and his people, who came and camped opposite ^(C1)Medeba. And the sons of Ammon gathered together from their cities and came to the battle.

When David heard about it, he sent Joab and all the army, the mighty men.

The sons of Ammon came out and drew up in battle formation at the entrance of the city; and the kings who had come were by themselves in the field.

Now when Joab saw that the ^(F1)battle was set against him at the front and at the rear, he selected warriors from all the choice men in Israel and lined them up against the Arameans.

But the remainder of the people he placed ^(F1)under the command of ^(F2)Abshai his brother; and they lined up against the sons of Ammon.

He said, "If the Arameans are too strong for me, then you shall help me; but if the sons of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will help you.

"Be strong, and let's show ourselves courageous for the benefit of our people and the cities of our God; and may the LORD do what is good in His sight."

So Joab and the people who were with him advanced to battle against the Arameans, and they fled from him.

When the sons of Ammon saw that the Arameans had fled, they also fled from his brother Abshai and entered the city. Then Joab came to Jerusalem.

When the Arameans saw that they had been ^(F1)defeated by Israel, they sent messengers and brought out the Arameans who were beyond the Euphrates River, with Shophach the commander of the army of Hadadezer ^(F2)leading them.

When it was reported to David, he gathered all Israel together and crossed the Jordan, and came upon them and drew up in formation against them. And when David drew up in battle formation against the Arameans, they fought against him.

And the Arameans fled from Israel, and David killed of the Arameans seven thousand charioteers and forty thousand foot soldiers; and he put Shophach the commander of the army to death.

So when the servants of Hadadezer saw that they had been ^(F1)defeated by Israel, they made peace with David and served him. So the Arameans were not willing to help the sons of Ammon anymore.