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David’s first attempt to move the chest

13 After consulting with the captains of the units of a thousand and a hundred, in fact with every leader, David said to the entire Israelite assembly: “If you approve, and if the Lord our God agrees, let’s spread the word to the rest of our relatives in all the regions of Israel, including the priests and Levites in their cities with pasturelands. Let’s ask them to join us so that we may bring the chest of our God back to us, because we didn’t look for it in Saul’s days.” The whole assembly agreed to do so, because all the people thought it was the right thing to do.

So David assembled all Israel, from the border[a] of Egypt to Lebo-hamath in order to bring up God’s chest from Kiriath-jearim. Then David and all Israel went up toward Baalah, to Kiriath-jearim, which belongs to Judah, to bring up from there the chest of God, the Lord, who sits enthroned on the winged creatures, where he is called by name.[b] They moved God’s chest on a new cart from Abinadab’s house. Uzzah and Ahio were guiding the cart, while David and all Israel celebrated in God’s presence with all their strength, accompanied by songs, zithers, harps, tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets. When they came to Chidon’s threshing floor, Uzzah reached out to the chest and grabbed it because the oxen had stumbled. 10 But the Lord became angry with Uzzah and struck him because he had placed his hand on the chest. He died right there before God. 11 David was angry that the Lord lashed out at Uzzah; and so that place is still called Perez-uzzah today. 12 David was frightened by God that day. “How will I ever bring God’s chest home to me?” he asked. 13 So David didn’t take the chest away with him to David’s City. Instead, he had it put in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. 14 God’s chest stayed with Obed-edom’s household for three months, and the Lord blessed Obed-edom’s household and all that he had.

David’s kingship established in Jerusalem

14 Tyre’s King Hiram sent messengers to David with cedar logs, bricklayers, and carpenters to build David a palace. Then David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel, and that his kingship was held in great honor for the sake of his people Israel. David married more secondary wives in Jerusalem and fathered more sons and daughters. The names of his children in Jerusalem were as follows: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet, Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, Elishama, Beeliada, and Eliphelet.

David defeats the Philistines

When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, they all marched up to find him. David heard this and went out to confront them. The Philistines had invaded and were plundering the Rephaim Valley. 10 David asked God for advice: “Should I attack the Philistines, and will you hand them over to me?”

The Lord answered, “Attack them, and I’ll definitely hand them over to you.”

11 So they marched up to Baal-perazim, and David defeated them there. “By my strength,” David exclaimed, “God has burst out against my enemies, the way water bursts out.” That’s why the place is called Baal-perazim.[c] 12 The Philistines left their divine images behind, and David ordered them burned.

13 When the Philistines plundered the valley a second time, 14 David again asked God’s advice, but God answered, “Don’t attack them directly. Circle around behind them and come at them from in front of the balsam trees. 15 As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the trees, then attack, for God has attacked in front of you to defeat the Philistine army.” 16 David followed God’s orders exactly, and they defeated the Philistine army from Gibeon all the way to Gezer. 17 David’s fame spread throughout all lands, and the Lord made all the nations fear him.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 13:5 Heb Shikhor, river; cf Josh 15:4; 1 Kgs 8:65; 2 Chron 7:8
  2. 1 Chronicles 13:6 Heb uncertain
  3. 1 Chronicles 14:11 Or master of outbursts

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