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1 Chronicles 13-15
New King James Version

The Ark Brought from Kirjath Jearim(A)

13 Then David consulted with the (B)captains of thousands and hundreds, and with every leader. 2 And David said to all the assembly of Israel, “If it seems good to you, and if it is of the Lord our God, let us send out to our brethren everywhere who are (C)left in all the land of Israel, and with them to the priests and Levites who are in their cities and their common-lands, that they may gather together to us; 3 and let us bring the ark of our God back to us, (D)for we have not inquired at it since the days of Saul.” 4 Then all the assembly said that they would do so, for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people.

5 So (E)David gathered all Israel together, from (F)Shihor in Egypt to as far as the entrance of Hamath, to bring the ark of God (G)from Kirjath Jearim. 6 And David and all Israel went up to (H)Baalah,[a] to Kirjath Jearim, which belonged to Judah, to bring up from there the ark of God the Lord, (I)who dwells between the cherubim, where His name is proclaimed. 7 So they [b]carried the ark of God (J)on a new cart (K)from the house of Abinadab, and Uzza and Ahio drove the cart. 8 Then (L)David and all Israel played music before God with all their might, with [c]singing, on harps, on stringed instruments, on tambourines, on cymbals, and with trumpets.

9 And when they came to [d]Chidon’s threshing floor, Uzza put out his hand to hold the ark, for the oxen [e]stumbled. 10 Then the anger of the Lord was aroused against Uzza, and He struck him (M)because he put his hand to the ark; and he (N)died there before God. 11 And David became angry because of the Lord’s outbreak against Uzza; therefore that place is called [f]Perez Uzza to this day. 12 David was afraid of God that day, saying, “How can I bring the ark of God to me?”

13 So David would not move the ark with him into the City of David, but took it aside into the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. 14 (O)The ark of God remained with the family of Obed-Edom in his house three months. And the Lord blessed (P)the house of Obed-Edom and all that he had.

David Established at Jerusalem(Q)

14 Now (R)Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, with masons and carpenters, to build him a house. 2 So David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel, for his kingdom was (S)highly exalted for the sake of His people Israel.

3 Then David took more wives in Jerusalem, and David begot more sons and daughters. 4 And (T)these are the names of his children whom he had in Jerusalem: [g]Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, 5 Ibhar, [h]Elishua, [i]Elpelet, 6 Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, 7 Elishama, [j]Beeliada, and Eliphelet.

The Philistines Defeated(U)

8 Now when the Philistines heard that (V)David had been anointed king over all Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. And David heard of it and went out against them. 9 Then the Philistines went and made a raid (W)on the Valley of [k]Rephaim. 10 And David (X)inquired of God, saying, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?”

The Lord said to him, “Go up, for I will deliver them into your hand.”

11 So they went up to Baal Perazim, and David defeated them there. Then David said, “God has broken through my enemies by my hand like a breakthrough of water.” Therefore they called the name of that place [l]Baal Perazim. 12 And when they left their gods there, David gave a commandment, and they were burned with fire.

13 (Y)Then the Philistines once again made a raid on the valley. 14 Therefore David inquired again of God, and God said to him, “You shall not go up after them; circle around them, (Z)and come upon them in front of the mulberry trees. 15 And it shall be, when you hear a sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then you shall go out to battle, for God has gone out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.” 16 So David did as God commanded him, and they drove back the army of the Philistines from [m]Gibeon as far as Gezer. 17 Then (AA)the fame of David went out into all lands, and the Lord (AB)brought the fear of him upon all nations.

The Ark Brought to Jerusalem(AC)

15 David built houses for himself in the City of David; and he prepared a place for the ark of God, (AD)and pitched a tent for it. 2 Then David said, “No one may carry the (AE)ark of God but the Levites, for (AF)the Lord has chosen them to carry the ark of God and to minister before Him forever.” 3 And David (AG)gathered all Israel together at Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the Lord to its place, which he had prepared for it. 4 Then David assembled the children of Aaron and the Levites: 5 of the sons of Kohath, Uriel the chief, and one hundred and twenty of his [n]brethren; 6 of the sons of Merari, Asaiah the chief, and two hundred and twenty of his brethren; 7 of the sons of Gershom, Joel the chief, and one hundred and thirty of his brethren; 8 of the sons of (AH)Elizaphan, Shemaiah the chief, and two hundred of his brethren; 9 of the sons of (AI)Hebron, Eliel the chief, and eighty of his brethren; 10 of the sons of Uzziel, Amminadab the chief, and one hundred and twelve of his brethren.

11 And David called for (AJ)Zadok and (AK)Abiathar the priests, and for the Levites: for Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab. 12 He said to them, “You are the heads of the fathers’ houses of the Levites; [o]sanctify yourselves, you and your brethren, that you may bring up the ark of the Lord God of Israel to the place I have prepared for it. 13 For (AL)because you did not do it the first time, (AM)the Lord our God broke out against us, because we did not consult Him [p]about the proper order.”

14 So the priests and the Levites [q]sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of the Lord God of Israel. 15 And the children of the Levites bore the ark of God on their shoulders, by its poles, as (AN)Moses had commanded according to the word of the Lord.

16 Then David spoke to the leaders of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be the singers accompanied by instruments of music, stringed instruments, harps, and cymbals, by raising the voice with resounding joy. 17 So the Levites appointed (AO)Heman the son of Joel; and of his brethren, (AP)Asaph the son of Berechiah; and of their brethren, the sons of Merari, (AQ)Ethan the son of Kushaiah; 18 and with them their brethren of the second rank: Zechariah, [r]Ben, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Elipheleh, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, and Jeiel, the gatekeepers; 19 the singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, were to sound the cymbals of bronze; 20 Zechariah, [s]Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah, with strings according to (AR)Alamoth; 21 Mattithiah, Elipheleh, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah, to direct with harps on the (AS)Sheminith; 22 Chenaniah, leader of the Levites, was instructor in charge of the music, because he was skillful; 23 Berechiah and Elkanah were doorkeepers for the ark; 24 Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer, the priests, (AT)were to blow the trumpets before the ark of God; and (AU)Obed-Edom and Jehiah, doorkeepers for the ark.

25 So (AV)David, the elders of Israel, and the captains over thousands went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord from the house of Obed-Edom with joy. 26 And so it was, when God helped the Levites who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord, that they offered seven bulls and seven rams. 27 David was clothed with a robe of fine (AW)linen, as were all the Levites who bore the ark, the singers, and Chenaniah the music master with the singers. David also wore a linen ephod. 28 (AX)Thus all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the Lord with shouting and with the sound of the horn, with trumpets and with cymbals, making music with stringed instruments and harps.

29 And it happened, (AY)as the ark of the covenant of the Lord came to the City of David, that Michal, Saul’s daughter, looked through a window and saw King David whirling and playing music; and she despised him in her heart.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 13:6 Baale Judah, 2 Sam. 6:2
  2. 1 Chronicles 13:7 Lit. caused the ark of God to ride
  3. 1 Chronicles 13:8 songs
  4. 1 Chronicles 13:9 Nachon, 2 Sam. 6:6
  5. 1 Chronicles 13:9 Or let it go off
  6. 1 Chronicles 13:11 Lit. Outburst Against Uzza
  7. 1 Chronicles 14:4 Shimea, 1 Chr. 3:5
  8. 1 Chronicles 14:5 Elishama, 1 Chr. 3:6
  9. 1 Chronicles 14:5 Eliphelet, 1 Chr. 3:6
  10. 1 Chronicles 14:7 Eliada, 2 Sam. 5:6; 1 Chr. 3:8
  11. 1 Chronicles 14:9 Lit. Giants
  12. 1 Chronicles 14:11 Lit. Master of Breakthroughs
  13. 1 Chronicles 14:16 Geba, 2 Sam. 5:25
  14. 1 Chronicles 15:5 kinsmen
  15. 1 Chronicles 15:12 consecrate
  16. 1 Chronicles 15:13 regarding the ordinance
  17. 1 Chronicles 15:14 consecrated
  18. 1 Chronicles 15:18 So with MT, Vg.; LXX omits Ben
  19. 1 Chronicles 15:20 Jaaziel, v. 18
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1 Chronicles 13-15
New International Version

Bringing Back the Ark(A)

13 David conferred with each of his officers, the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds. 2 He then said to the whole assembly of Israel, “If it seems good to you and if it is the will of the Lord our God, let us send word far and wide to the rest of our people throughout the territories of Israel, and also to the priests and Levites who are with them in their towns and pasturelands, to come and join us. 3 Let us bring the ark of our God back to us,(B) for we did not inquire(C) of[a] it[b] during the reign of Saul.” 4 The whole assembly agreed to do this, because it seemed right to all the people.

5 So David assembled all Israel,(D) from the Shihor River(E) in Egypt to Lebo Hamath,(F) to bring the ark of God from Kiriath Jearim.(G) 6 David and all Israel went to Baalah(H) of Judah (Kiriath Jearim) to bring up from there the ark of God the Lord, who is enthroned between the cherubim(I)—the ark that is called by the Name.

7 They moved the ark of God from Abinadab’s(J) house on a new cart, with Uzzah and Ahio guiding it. 8 David and all the Israelites were celebrating with all their might before God, with songs and with harps, lyres, timbrels, cymbals and trumpets.(K)

9 When they came to the threshing floor of Kidon, Uzzah reached out his hand to steady the ark, because the oxen stumbled. 10 The Lord’s anger(L) burned against Uzzah, and he struck him down(M) because he had put his hand on the ark. So he died there before God.

11 Then David was angry because the Lord’s wrath had broken out against Uzzah, and to this day that place is called Perez Uzzah.[c](N)

12 David was afraid of God that day and asked, “How can I ever bring the ark of God to me?” 13 He did not take the ark to be with him in the City of David. Instead, he took it to the house of Obed-Edom(O) the Gittite. 14 The ark of God remained with the family of Obed-Edom in his house for three months, and the Lord blessed his household(P) and everything he had.

David’s House and Family(Q)

14 Now Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with cedar logs,(R) stonemasons and carpenters to build a palace for him. 2 And David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel and that his kingdom had been highly exalted(S) for the sake of his people Israel.

3 In Jerusalem David took more wives and became the father of more sons(T) and daughters. 4 These are the names of the children born to him there:(U) Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, 5 Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet, 6 Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, 7 Elishama, Beeliada[d] and Eliphelet.

David Defeats the Philistines(V)

8 When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel,(W) they went up in full force to search for him, but David heard about it and went out to meet them. 9 Now the Philistines had come and raided the Valley(X) of Rephaim; 10 so David inquired of God: “Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will you deliver them into my hands?”

The Lord answered him, “Go, I will deliver them into your hands.”

11 So David and his men went up to Baal Perazim,(Y) and there he defeated them. He said, “As waters break out, God has broken out against my enemies by my hand.” So that place was called Baal Perazim.[e] 12 The Philistines had abandoned their gods there, and David gave orders to burn(Z) them in the fire.(AA)

13 Once more the Philistines raided the valley;(AB) 14 so David inquired of God again, and God answered him, “Do not go directly after them, but circle around them and attack them in front of the poplar trees. 15 As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the poplar trees, move out to battle, because that will mean God has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army.” 16 So David did as God commanded him, and they struck down the Philistine army, all the way from Gibeon(AC) to Gezer.(AD)

17 So David’s fame(AE) spread throughout every land, and the Lord made all the nations fear(AF) him.

The Ark Brought to Jerusalem(AG)

15 After David had constructed buildings for himself in the City of David, he prepared(AH) a place for the ark of God and pitched(AI) a tent for it. 2 Then David said, “No one but the Levites(AJ) may carry(AK) the ark of God, because the Lord chose them to carry the ark of the Lord and to minister(AL) before him forever.”

3 David assembled all Israel(AM) in Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the Lord to the place he had prepared for it. 4 He called together the descendants of Aaron and the Levites:(AN)

5 From the descendants of Kohath,

Uriel(AO) the leader and 120 relatives;

6 from the descendants of Merari,

Asaiah the leader and 220 relatives;

7 from the descendants of Gershon,[f]

Joel the leader and 130 relatives;

8 from the descendants of Elizaphan,(AP)

Shemaiah the leader and 200 relatives;

9 from the descendants of Hebron,(AQ)

Eliel the leader and 80 relatives;

10 from the descendants of Uzziel,

Amminadab the leader and 112 relatives.

11 Then David summoned Zadok(AR) and Abiathar(AS) the priests, and Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel and Amminadab the Levites. 12 He said to them, “You are the heads of the Levitical families; you and your fellow Levites are to consecrate(AT) yourselves and bring up the ark of the Lord, the God of Israel, to the place I have prepared for it. 13 It was because you, the Levites,(AU) did not bring it up the first time that the Lord our God broke out in anger against us.(AV) We did not inquire of him about how to do it in the prescribed way.(AW)” 14 So the priests and Levites consecrated themselves in order to bring up the ark of the Lord, the God of Israel. 15 And the Levites carried the ark of God with the poles on their shoulders, as Moses had commanded(AX) in accordance with the word of the Lord.(AY)

16 David(AZ) told the leaders of the Levites(BA) to appoint their fellow Levites as musicians(BB) to make a joyful sound with musical instruments: lyres, harps and cymbals.(BC)

17 So the Levites appointed Heman(BD) son of Joel; from his relatives, Asaph(BE) son of Berekiah; and from their relatives the Merarites,(BF) Ethan son of Kushaiah; 18 and with them their relatives next in rank: Zechariah,[g] Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom(BG) and Jeiel,[h] the gatekeepers.

19 The musicians Heman,(BH) Asaph and Ethan were to sound the bronze cymbals; 20 Zechariah, Jaaziel,[i] Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah and Benaiah were to play the lyres according to alamoth,[j] 21 and Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, Jeiel and Azaziah were to play the harps, directing according to sheminith.[k] 22 Kenaniah the head Levite was in charge of the singing; that was his responsibility because he was skillful at it.

23 Berekiah and Elkanah were to be doorkeepers for the ark. 24 Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah and Eliezer the priests were to blow trumpets(BI) before the ark of God. Obed-Edom and Jehiah were also to be doorkeepers for the ark.

25 So David and the elders of Israel and the commanders of units of a thousand went to bring up the ark(BJ) of the covenant of the Lord from the house of Obed-Edom, with rejoicing. 26 Because God had helped the Levites who were carrying the ark of the covenant of the Lord, seven bulls and seven rams(BK) were sacrificed. 27 Now David was clothed in a robe of fine linen, as were all the Levites who were carrying the ark, and as were the musicians, and Kenaniah, who was in charge of the singing of the choirs. David also wore a linen ephod.(BL) 28 So all Israel(BM) brought up the ark of the covenant of the Lord with shouts,(BN) with the sounding of rams’ horns(BO) and trumpets, and of cymbals, and the playing of lyres and harps.

29 As the ark of the covenant of the Lord was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David dancing and celebrating, she despised him in her heart.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 13:3 Or we neglected
  2. 1 Chronicles 13:3 Or him
  3. 1 Chronicles 13:11 Perez Uzzah means outbreak against Uzzah.
  4. 1 Chronicles 14:7 A variant of Eliada
  5. 1 Chronicles 14:11 Baal Perazim means the lord who breaks out.
  6. 1 Chronicles 15:7 Hebrew Gershom, a variant of Gershon
  7. 1 Chronicles 15:18 Three Hebrew manuscripts and most Septuagint manuscripts (see also verse 20 and 16:5); most Hebrew manuscripts Zechariah son and or Zechariah, Ben and
  8. 1 Chronicles 15:18 Hebrew; Septuagint (see also verse 21) Jeiel and Azaziah
  9. 1 Chronicles 15:20 See verse 18; Hebrew Aziel, a variant of Jaaziel.
  10. 1 Chronicles 15:20 Probably a musical term
  11. 1 Chronicles 15:21 Probably a musical term
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1 Chronicles 12
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