Amplified Bible (AMP)

People of Jerusalem

1 So all Israel was enrolled by genealogies; and they are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel. And Judah was carried away into exile to Babylon because of their unfaithfulness [to God].

2 Now the first [of the returned exiles] who lived [again] in their possessions in their cities were Israel, the priests, the Levites, and the Nethinim (temple servants).

3 Some of the sons (people) of Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh lived in Jerusalem:

4 Uthai the son of Ammihud, the son of Omri, the son of Imri, the son of Bani, of the sons of Perez the son of Judah.

5 From the Shilonites: Asaiah the firstborn and his sons.

6 From the sons of Zerah: Jeuel and their relatives, 690 [of them].

7 From the sons of Benjamin: Sallu the son of Meshullam, the son of Hodaviah, the son of Hassenuah;

8 Ibneiah the son of Jeroham, Elah the son of Uzzi, the son of Michri, and Meshullam son of Shephatiah, the son of Reuel, the son of Ibnijah;

9 and their relatives according to their generations, 956. All these men were heads of fathers’householdsaccording to their fathers’ houses.

10 Of the priests: Jedaiah, Jehoiarib, Jachin,

11 Azariah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the chief officer of the house of God;

12 and Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son of Pashhur, the son of Malchijah; Maasai the son of Adiel, the son of Jahzerah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Meshillemith, the son of Immer;

13 and their relatives, heads of their fathers’ households, 1,760–very able men for the work of the service of the house of God.

14 Of the Levites: Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, of the sons of Merari;

15 and Bakbakkar, Heresh, Galal, and Mattaniah son of Mica, the son of Zichri, the son of Asaph;

16 and Obadiah the son of Shemaiah, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun, and Berechiah the son of Asa, the son of Elkanah, who lived in the villages of the Netophathites [near Jerusalem].

17 The gatekeepers were: Shallum, Akkub, Talmon, Ahiman, and their relatives (Shallum the chief

18 who until nowwas assignedto the king’s gate on the east side) they were the gatekeepers for the camp of the Levites.

19 Shallum the son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, and his relatives of his father’s house, the Korahites, were in charge of the work of the service, doorkeepers of the Tent; and their fathers had been in charge of the camp of the Lord, keepers of the entrance.

20 Phinehas the son of Eleazar was ruler over them in times past, and the Lordwas with him.

21 Zechariah son of Meshelemiah was gatekeeper at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting.

22 All those chosen to be gatekeepers at the thresholds were 212. They were enrolled by their genealogies in their villages [around Jerusalem], these men [whose grandfathers] David and Samuel the seer had appointed to their official duty.

23 So they and their sons were in charge of the gates of the house of the Lord, that is, the house of the tabernacle, as guards.

24 The gatekeepers werestationedon the four sides –on the east, west, north, and south.

25 Their relatives in their villages were to come in every seven days from time to time to be with them;

26 for these Levites, the four chief gatekeepers, had an official duty, and were in charge of the chambers and treasuries of the house of God.

27 They spent the night around the house of God, for the [night] watch was theirs, and they were in charge of openingthe housemorning after morning.

28 Now some of them were in charge of the serving utensils, being required to count them when they brought them in or took them out.

29 Some of them also were appointed over the furniture and over all the [sacred] utensils of the sanctuary, as well as over the fine flour and the wine and the [olive] oil and the frankincense and the spices.

30 Other sons of the priests prepared the mixture of spices.

31 Mattithiah, one of the Levites, the firstborn of Shallum the Korahite, was responsible for the things baked in pans.

32 Some of their Kohathite relatives were in charge of the showbread to prepare it every Sabbath.

33 Now these are the singers, heads of the fathers’householdsof the Levites,livingin thetemplechambers, freefrom other servicebecause they were on duty day and night.

34 These were heads of fathers’householdsof the Levites according to their generations, chief men, who lived in Jerusalem.

Ancestry and Descendants of Saul

35 Jeiel the father of Gibeon lived in Gibeon, and his wife’s name was Maacah,

36 and his firstborn son was Abdon, then Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner, Nadab,

37 Gedor, Ahio, Zechariah, and Mikloth.

38 Mikloth became the father of Shimeam. They also lived with their relatives in Jerusalem, opposite theirotherrelatives.

39 Ner became the father of Kish, and Kish became the father of [King] Saul, and Saul became the father of Jonathan, Malchi-shua, Abinadab, and Esh-baal.

40 The son of Jonathan was Merib-baal (Mephibosheth); Merib-baal became the father of Micah.

41 The sons of Micah: Pithon, Melech, Tahrea [and Ahaz].

42 Ahaz became the father of Jarah, and Jarah became the father of Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri; and Zimri became the father of Moza,

43 Moza became the father of Binea and Rephaiah his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son.

44 Azel had six sons, and these are their names: Azrikam, Bocheru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan. These were the sons of Azel.

Defeat and Death of Saul and His Sons

1 Now the Philistines fought against Israel; and the men of Israel fled from them and fell slain on Mount Gilboa.

2 The Philistines followed closely after Saul and his sonsandovertook them, and the Philistines killed Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchi-shua, the sons of Saul.

3 The battle became heavy against Saul, and the archers found him; and he was [mortally] wounded by the archers.

4 Then Saul said to his armor bearer, “Draw your sword and run me through with it, otherwise these uncircumcised [Philistines] will come and abuseandhumiliate me.” But his armor bearer would not, for he was terrified. So Saul took his own sword and fell on it.

5 When his armor bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell on his sword and died.

6 So Saul died with his three sons and allthoseof his house died together.

7 When all the men of Israel who were in the valley saw that the army had fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned their cities and fled; and the Philistines came and lived in them.

8 It came about the next day, when the Philistines came to strip (plunder) the slain, that they found Saul and his sons fallen on Mount Gilboa.

9 So they stripped Saul and took his head and his armor and sentmessengersaround the land of the Philistines to bring the good news to theiridols and to the people.

10 They put Saul’s armor in the house of their gods and nailed up his head in the house (temple) of Dagon.

Jabesh-gilead’s Tribute to Saul

11 When all Jabesh-gilead heard about everything that the Philistines had done to Saul,

12 all the brave men arose, took away the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons and brought them to Jabesh, and they buried their bones under the oak in Jabesh; then they fasted seven days.

13 So Saul died for histrespass which he committed against the Lord, for his failure to keep the word of the Lord; and also because he consulted a medium [regarding a spirit of the dead], to inquireof her,

14 and did not inquire of the Lord[instead]. Therefore the Lordkilled him and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse.

David Made King over All Israel

1 Then all Israel gathered to David at Hebron, saying, “Behold, we are your bone and your flesh.

2 In times past, even when Saul was king, it was you who led out and brought in Israel; and the Lordyour God said to you, ‘You shall shepherd My people Israel, and you shall be princeandleader over My people Israel.’”

3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and David made a covenant (solemn agreement) with them there before the Lord; and they anointed him king over Israel, in accordance with the word of the Lordthrough Samuel.

Jerusalem, Capital City

4 Then David and all Israel went to Jerusalem (that is Jebus); and the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, were there.

5 Then the Jebusites said to David, “You shall not come in here.” But David captured the stronghold of Zion (that is, the City of David).

6 Now David said, “Whoever strikes down a Jebusite first shall be chief and commander.” Joab the son of Zeruiah [David’s half sister] went up first, and so he was made chief.

7 Then David lived in the stronghold; so it was called the City of David.

8 He built the city around it, from the Millo (fortification) to the surrounding area; and Joab repaired the rest of the [old Jebusite] city.

9 David became greater and greater, for the Lordof hosts was with him.

David’s Mighty Men

10 Now these are the chiefs of David’s mighty men, who strongly supported him in his kingdom, together with all Israel, to make him king, in accordance with the word of the Lordconcerning Israel.

11 This is the list of David’s mighty men: Jashobeam, the son of a Hachmonite, the chief of the thirty [heroes]. He lifted up his spear against three hundred whom he killed at one time.

12 Next to him [in rank] was Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, who was one of the three mighty men.

13 He was with David at Pasdammim [where David had killed Goliath] and there the Philistines were gathered together for battle, and there was a plot of ground full of barley; and the people [of Israel] fled before the Philistines.

14 But they took their stand in the midst of that plot and defended it, and killed the Philistines; and the Lordrescued them by a great victory.

15 Three of the thirty chief men went down to the rock to David, into the cave of Adullam, while the army of the Philistines was camped in the Valley of Rephaim.

16 David was then in the stronghold, while the garrison of the Philistines was in Bethlehem.

17 David had a craving and said, “Oh that someone would give me a drink of water from the well of Bethlehem, which is next to the gate!”

18 Then the three [mighty men] broke through the camp of the Philistines and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem which was next to the gate, and brought it to David. But David would not drink it; he poured it out to the Lord[as an offering];

19 and he said, “Far be it from me before my God that I would do this thing! Shall I drink the blood of these men who have put their lives in jeopardy? For they brought it at the risk of their lives.” So he would not drink it. These things the three mighty men did.

20 Abishai the brother of Joab was chief of the [other]three, and he lifted up his spear against three hundred and killed them, and he had a name as well as the three.

21 Of the three in the second [rank] he was the most honored and became their captain; however, he did not attain to thefirstthree [Jashobeam, Eleazar, and Shammah].

22 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a courageous man of Kabzeel who had done great things, killed the twosons ofAriel of Moab. Also he went down and killed a lion in a pit on a snowy day.

23 He killed an Egyptian also, a man ofgreatstature, fivecubits tall. In the Egyptian’s hand was a spear like a weaver’s beam, and Benaiah went down to him with [only] a staff (rod) and grabbed the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear.

24 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada did thesethings,and had a name as well as the three mighty men.

25 He was honored among the thirty, but he did not attain to [the rank of] the [first] three. David appointed him over his bodyguard.

26 Now the mighty men of the armies were: Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem,

27 Shammoth the Harorite, Helez the Pelonite,

28 Ira the son of Ikkesh of Tekoa, Abiezer of Anathoth,

29 Sibbecai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite,

30 Maharai the Netophathite, Heled the son of Baanah the Netophathite,

31 Ithai the son of Ribai of Gibeah of the Benjamites, Benaiah the Pirathonite,

32 Hurai of the brooks of Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite,

33 Azmaveth the Baharumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite,

34 the sons of Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan the son of Shagee the Hararite,

35 Ahiam the son of Sacar the Hararite, Eliphal the son of Ur,

36 Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite,

37 Hezro the Carmelite, Naarai the son of Ezbai,

38 Joel the brother of Nathan, Mibhar the son of Hagri,

39 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Berothite, the armor bearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah [David’s half sister],

40 Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,

41 Uriah the Hittite [Bathsheba’s husband], Zabad the son of Ahlai,

42 Adina the son of Shiza the Reubenite, a chief of the Reubenites, and thirty [heroes] with him,

43 Hanan the son of Maacah, and Joshaphat the Mithnite,

44 Uzzia the Ashterathite, Shama and Jeiel the sons of Hotham the Aroerite,

45 Jediael the son of Shimri, and his brother Joha, the Tizite,

46 Eliel the Mahavite, Jeribai and Joshaviah the sons of Elnaam, Ithmah the Moabite,

47 Eliel and Obed and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.

David’s Supporters in Ziklag

1 These are the ones who came to David at Ziklag, while he still concealed himself from Saul the son of Kish; they were among the courageous men who helped him in battle.

2 They were armed with bows, and could use the right hand or the left toslingstones andshootarrows from the bow;they wereSaul’s relatives from [the tribe of] Benjamin.

3 The chief was Ahiezer and then Joash, the sons of Shemaah of Gibeah; Jeziel and Pelet the sons of Azmaveth; Beracah, and Jehu of Anathoth,

4 Ishmaiah of Gibeon, a mighty man among the thirty, and [a leader] over them;Jeremiah, Jahaziel, Johanan, Jozabad of Gederah,

5 Eluzai, Jerimoth, Bealiah, Shemariah, Shephatiah the Haruphite,

6 Elkanah, Isshiah, Azarel, Joezer, and Jashobeam, the Korahites,

7 and Joelah and Zebadiah the sons of Jeroham of Gedor.

8 Courageous men from the Gadites came over to David in the stronghold in the wilderness, men trained for war, who could handle shield and spear, whose faces were like the faces of lions, and who were swift as gazelles on the mountains.

9 Ezer was the first, Obadiah the second, Eliab the third,

10 Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah the fifth,

11 Attai the sixth, Eliel the seventh,

12 Johanan the eighth, Elzabad the ninth,

13 Jeremiah the tenth, Machbannai the eleventh.

14 These from the sons (descendants) of Gad were captains of the army; he who was least wasequal to a hundred, and the greatest was equal to a thousand.

15 These are the men who crossed over the Jordan in the first month when it had overflowed all its banks and they put to flight all those in the valleys, east and west.

16 Then some of themen of Benjamin and Judah came to the stronghold to David.

17 David went out to meet them and said to them, “If you have come peacefully to me to help me, my heart shall be united with you; but ifyou have cometo betray me to my adversaries, since there is no violenceorwrong in my hands, may the God of our fathers look on [what you are doing] and punish [you].”

18 Then the [Holy] Spirit came on Amasai, who was chief of the thirty,and he said,

“We are yours, O David,

And with you, O son of Jesse!

Peace, peace be to you,

And peace be to him who helps you;

For your God helps you.”

Then David acceptedandreceived them and made them officers of his troops.

19 Some [of the men] of Manasseh also defected to David when he came with the Philistines to go to battle against Saul. But David’s men did not [actually] assist the Philistines, for the lords (governors) of the Philistines after consultation sent him away, saying, “Atthe cost ofour heads he may defect to his master Saul.”

20 As David went to Ziklag,these mendefected to him from Manasseh: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai, captains of thousands who belonged to Manasseh.

21 They helped David against the band of raiders, for they were all courageous men, and [all seven] became commanders in his army.

22 For day by day men kept coming to David to help him, until there was a great army, like the army of God.

Supporters Gathered at Hebron

23 These are the numbers of the [armed] units equipped for war who came to David at Hebron to turn [over] the kingdom of Saul to him, in accordance with the word of the Lord.

24 Those of the tribe of Judah who carried shield and spear were 6,800, armed for war;

25 of the tribe of Simeon, brave warriors, 7,100;

26 of the tribe of Levi, 4,600.

27 Jehoiada was the leader of [the house of] Aaron, and with him were 3,700,

28 and Zadok, a courageous young man, and twenty-two captains from his father’s house.

29 Of the tribe of Benjamin, the relatives of [King] Saul, 3,000; for until now the majority of them had kept their allegiance to the house of Saul.

30 Of the tribe of Ephraim, 20,800, courageous men, famous in their fathers’ houses.

31 Of the half-tribe of Manasseh, 18,000, who were designated by name to come and make David king.

32 Of the tribe of Issachar, men who understood the times, with knowledge of what Israel should do, two hundred chiefs; and all their relatives were at their command;

33 of the tribe of Zebulun, there were 50,000 in military service who could draw up in battle formation with all kinds of weapons of war and helpedDavid, menwithan undivided heart.

34 Of the tribe of Naphtali,there were1,000 captains, and with them 37,000 [of the rank and file armed] with shield and spear.

35 Of the tribe of Dan, 28,600 men who could draw up in battle formation.

36 Of the tribe of Asher, 40,000 men in military service, able to draw up in battle formation.

37 From the other side [east] of the JordanRiver, of [the tribes of] Reuben and Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh, 120,000 men,armedwith all kinds of weapons of war for the battle.

38 All these, being men of war arrayed in battle formation, came to Hebron with a perfect (committed) heart to make David king over all Israel; and all the rest of Israel were also of one mind to make David king.

39 They were there with David for three days, eating and drinking, for their relatives had prepared for them.

40 Also those who were [living] near them [from] as far as [the tribes of] Issachar, Zebulun, and Naphtali, brought food on donkeys, camels, mules, and oxen, abundant supplies of flour, cakes of figs and raisins, wine, [olive] oil, oxen, and sheep, for there was joy in Israel.

Peril in Transporting the Ark

1 David consulted with the captains of the thousands and the hundreds, even with every leader.

2 David said to all the assembly of Israel, “If it seems good to you, and if it is from the Lordour God, let us sendwordeverywhere to our fellow countrymen who remain in all the land of Israel, and to the priests and Levites who are with them in their cities with pasture lands, so that they may meet with us;

3 and let us bring back the ark of our God to us,for we did not seek it during the days of Saul.”

4 Then all the assembly agreed to do so, for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people.

5 So David gathered all Israel together, from the Shihor [watercourse] of Egypt, to the entrance of Hamath [in the north], to bring the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim.

6 David and all Israel went up to Baalah,that is,to Kiriath-jearim, which belongs to Judah, to bring up from there the ark of God the Lordwho sits enthronedabovethe cherubim,the arkwhich is called byHisname.

7 Theycarried the ark of God on a new cart and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, and Uzza and Ahio [his brother] drove the cart.

8 David and all Israel celebrated [joyfully] before God with all their might, with songs, lyres, harps, tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets.

9 When they came to the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzza put out his hand to holdandsteady the ark, for the oxen [that were drawing the cart]nearly overturned it.

10 The anger of the Lordburned against Uzza, and He struck him down because he touched the ark; and there he died before God.

11 David became angry because of the Lord’soutburst against Uzza; so that place is calledPerez-uzza to this day.

12 David was afraid of God that day, and he said, “How can I bring the ark of Godhomewith me?”

13 So David did not bring the ark with him to the City of David, but took it aside to the house ofObed-edom the Gittite.

14 So the ark of God remained with thefamily of Obed-edom in his house three months; and the Lordblessed the house of Obed-edom and all that he had.

David’s Family Enlarged

1 Now Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David with cedar timbers, masons and carpenters, to build a house (palace) for him.

2 And David understood that the Lordhad establishedandconfirmed him as king over Israel, for his kingdom was highly exalted for the sake of His people Israel.

3 Then David took more wives at Jerusalem, and he became the father of more sons and daughters.

4 Now these are thenames of the children born [to him] in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,

5 Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet,

6 Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia,

7 Elishama, Beeliada, and Eliphelet.

Philistines Defeated

8 When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, they all went up in search of David; and he heard about it and went out against them.

9 Now the Philistines had come and made a raid in the Valley of Rephaim.

10 So David inquired of God, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? And will You hand them over to me?” Then the Lordsaid to him, “Go up, and I will hand them over to you.”

11 So Israel came up to Baal-perazim, and David defeated the Philistines there. Then David said, “God has broken through my enemies by my hand, like the breakthrough of waters.” Therefore they named that placeBaal-perazim.

12 The Philistines abandoned their gods (idols) there; so David gave a command and they were burned in a fire [as the Law of Moses required].

13 The Philistines again made a raid in the valley.

14 So David inquired again of God, and God said to him, “Do not go up after them; circle around behind them and come at them in front of the balsam trees.

15 It shall be when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then you shall go out to battle, for God has gone out before you to strike the Philistine army.”

16 So David did just as God had commanded him, and they struck down the army of the Philistines from Gibeon as far as Gezer.

17 Then David’s fame spread into all the lands; and the Lordcaused all nations to fear him.

Plans to Move the Ark to Jerusalem

1 Davidbuilt houses for himself in the City of David; and he prepared a place for the ark of God and pitched a tent for it.

2 Then David said, “No one is to carry the ark of God except the Levites; for the Lordchose them to carry the ark of God and to minister to Him forever.”

3 And David assembled all Israel at Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the Lordto the place which he had prepared for it.

4 David gathered together the sons of Aaron and the Levites:

5 of the sons of Kohath, Uriel the chief, with 120 of his relatives;

6 of the sons of Merari, Asaiah the chief, with 220 of his relatives;

7 of the sons of Gershom, Joel the chief, with 130 of his relatives;

8 of the sons of Elizaphan, Shemaiah the chief, with 200 of his relatives;

9 of the sons of Hebron, Eliel the chief, with 80 of his relatives;

10 of the sons of Uzziel, Amminadab the chief, with 112 of his relatives.

11 Then David called for Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and for the Levites–Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab,

12 and he said to them, “You are the heads of the fathers’householdsof the Levites; consecrate yourselves, both you and your relatives, so that you may bring up the ark of the LordGod of Israel, tothe placethat I have prepared for it.

13 Because you did not [carry it as God directed] the first time, the Lordour God made an [angry] outburst against us, for we did not seek Him in accordance with the ordinance.”

14 So the priests and the Levites consecrated (dedicated) themselves to bring up the ark of the LordGod of Israel.

15 The Levites carried the ark of God on their shoulders with the poles, as Moses commanded in accordance with the word of the Lord.

16 Then David told the chiefs of the Levites to appoint their relatives as the singers, with instruments of music–harps, lyres, and cymbals–to play loudlyandto raise sounds of joy [with their voices].

17 So 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,

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

19 So the singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethanwere appointedto sound aloud the bronze cymbals;

20 and Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah [were to play] withharpstunedto Alamoth [that is, a high pitch];

21 and Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah were to lead with lyres set to Sheminith [that is, the eighth string, a low pitch].

22 Chenaniah, leader of the Levites, wasin charge ofthe singing; he gave instruction in singing because he was skilled.

23 Berechiah and Elkanah were gatekeepers for the ark.

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

25 So David, with the elders of Israel and the captains over thousands, went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lordfrom the house of Obed-edom with joy.

26 Because God was helping the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord[to do it carefully and safely], they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams.

27 David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, as were all the Levites who carried the ark, and the singers and Chenaniah, director of the music of the singers. David also wore an ephod (a priestly upper garment) of linen.

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

29 It happened that as the ark of the covenant of the Lordcame to the City of David, Michal [David’s wife] the daughter of Saul, looking down through a window, saw King David leaping and dancing [in celebration]; andshe despised him in her heart.

A Tent for the Ark

1 So they brought the ark of God and set it inside the tent which David had pitched for it, and they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before God.

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

3 He distributed to everyone in Israel, both man and woman, to everyone a loaf of bread, a portionof meat,and a raisin cake.

4 He appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of the Lordand to profess [God’s name] and tothank and praise the Lord, the God of Israel:

5 Asaph the chief, and second to him Zechariah,thenJeiel (Jaaziel), Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-edom, and Jeiel with musical instruments, harps and lyres; also Asaphplayedloud-sounding cymbals;

6 and Benaiah and Jahaziel the priestsblewtrumpets continually before the ark of the covenant of God.

7 Then on that day David first entrusted to Asaph and his relatives to give thanks to the Lord[as their chief task].

Psalm of Thanksgiving

8 O give thanks to the Lord, call on His name;

Make His deeds known among the peoples.

9 Sing to Him, sing praises to Him;

Speak of all His wonders.

10 Glory in His holy name;

Let the hearts of those who seek the Lordrejoice.

11 Seek the Lordand His strength;

Seek His face continually [longing to be in His presence].

12 Remember [with gratitude] His marvelous deeds which He has done,

His miracles and the judgments from His mouth,

13 O seed of Israel His servant,

Children of Jacob, His chosen ones!

14 He is the Lordour God;

His judgments are in all the earth.

15 Be mindful of His covenant forever,

The promise which He commandedandestablished to a thousand generations,

16 The covenantwhich He made with Abraham,

And His oath (sworn promise) to Isaac.

17 He confirmed it as a statute to Jacob,

And to Israel as an everlasting covenant,

18 Saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan,

As the portion of your possessionandinheritance.”

19 When you were few in number,

Even a very few, and strangers in it,

20 When they wandered from nation to nation,

And fromonekingdom to another people,

21 He allowed no man to oppressorexploit them,

And, He reprovedandpunished kings for their sakes,saying,

22 “Do not touch My anointed ones,

And do My prophets no harm.”

23 Sing to the Lord, all the earth;

Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day.

24 Declare His glory among the nations,

His marvelous works among all peoples.

25 For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;

He is also to be feared [with awe-filled reverence] above all gods.

26 For all the gods of the peoples are [lifeless] idols,

But the Lordmade the heavens.

27 Splendor and majesty are [found] in His presence;

Strength and joy are [found] in His place (sanctuary).

28 Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples,

Ascribe to the Lordgloryandhonor and strength.

29 Ascribe to the Lordthe gloryandhonor due His name;

Bring an offering [of thanksgiving], and come before Him;

Worship the Lordin the splendor of holiness.

30 Tremble [reverently] before Him, all the earth;

The world is firmly established, it will not be moved.

31 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;

And let them say among the nations, “The Lordreigns.”

32 Let the sea roar, and all the things that fill it;

Let the field rejoice, and all that is in it.

33 Then the trees of the forest will sing for joy before the Lord;

For He comes to judgeandgovern the earth.

34 O give thanks to the Lord, forHe isgood;

For His lovingkindness endures forever.

35 Then say, “Save us, O God of our salvation;

Gather us together and rescue us from the nations,

That we may give thanks to Your holy name,

And glory in Your praise.”

36 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,

Forever and ever.

And all the people said, “Amen,” and praised the Lord.

Worship before the Ark

37 So David left Asaph and his relatives there before the ark of the covenant of the Lordto minister before the ark continually, as each day’s work required;

38 and Obed-edom with his sixty-eight relatives; also Obed-edom the son of Jeduthun, and Hosah, were to be gatekeepers.

39 David leftZadok the priest and his relatives the priests before the dwelling place (tabernacle) of the Lordin the high place which was at Gibeon,

40 to offer burnt offerings to the Lordon the altar of burnt offering continually, morning and evening, in accordance with all that is written in the Law of the Lord, which He commanded Israel.

41 With them were Heman and Jeduthun, and the rest who were chosen and designated by name, to give thanks to the Lord, for His lovingkindness endures forever.

42 With them were Heman and Jeduthunwithtrumpets and cymbals for those whowere tosound aloud, and instruments for [accompanying] the songs of God. And the sons of Jeduthun were to be at the gate.

43 Then all the people departed, each to his house, and David returned [home] to bless his household.

God’s Covenant with David

1 As David sat in his house (palace), he said to Nathan the prophet, “Behold, I live in a house of cedars, while the ark of the covenant of the Lordis under tent curtains.”

2 Then Nathan said to David, “Do all that is in your heart, for God is with you.”

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

4 “Go and tell David My servant, ‘Thus says the Lord, “You shall not build a house for Me to dwell in;

5 for I have not dwelt in a house since the day that I brought Israel up [from Egypt] until this day, but I have gone from tent to tent and fromonedwelling placeto another.

6 Wherever I have walked with all Israel, did I say a word to any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd My people, saying, ‘Why have you not built for Me a house of cedar?’”’

7 Now, therefore, this is what you shall say to My servant David: ‘Thus says the Lordof hosts, “I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be leader over My people Israel.

8 I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make your name like the name of the great ones of the earth.

9 I will appoint a place for My people Israel, and will plant them, so that they may live in their own place and not be moved again [nor tremble with fear]; and thewicked will not waste (persecute) them anymore, as formerly,

10 since the time that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel. And I will humbleandsubdue all your enemies.

“Furthermore, I tell you that the Lordwill build you a house (a blessed posterity).

11 And it shall come to pass that when your days are completed and you must go to be with your fathers [in death], I will raise upone ofyour descendants after you, one of your own sons; and I will establish his kingdom.

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

13 I will be his father and he shall be My son; and I will not take My steadfast loveandmercy away from him, as I took it from him (King Saul) who was before you.

14 But I will settlehim in My house and in My kingdom forever, and his throne shall be established forevermore.”’”

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

David’s Prayer in Response

16 Then David the king went in and sat before the Lordand said, “Who am I, O LordGod, and what is my houseandfamily that You have brought me this far?

17 This was a small thing in Your eyes, O God; but You have spoken of Your servant’s house for a great while to come, and have regarded me according to the standardandestate of a man of high degree (prominence), O LordGod.

18 What more can David say to You for the honorgranted toYour servant? For You know Your servant.

19 O Lord, for Your servant’s sake, and in accordance with Your own heart, You have accomplished all this greatness, to make known all these great things.

20 O Lord, there is no one like You, nor is there any God except You, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

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

22 You made Your people Israel Your own people forever, and You, Lord, became their God.

23 “Therefore now, O Lord, let the word which You have spoken concerning Your servant and his house endure forever, and do as You have said.

24 Let Your name [and the character that it denotes] endure and be magnified forever, saying, ‘The Lordof hosts is the God of Israel, yes, a God to Israel; and the house of Your servant David is established before You.’

25 For You, O my God, have revealed to Your servant that You will build for him a house (descendants); therefore Your servant has foundcourageto pray before You.

26 And now, O Lord, You are God, and you have spokenandpromised this good thing to Your servant.

27 Therefore may it please You to bless the house (descendants) of Your servant, that it may continue before You forever; for what You bless, O Lord, is blessed forever.”

David’s Kingdom Strengthened

1 After this it came about that David defeated and subdued the Philistines, and he took Gath and its villages out of the hand of the Philistines.

2 He defeated Moab, and the Moabites became David’s servants and brought tribute (gifts).

3 David also defeated Hadadezer king of Zobahas far asHamath, as he went to establish hisdominion to the Euphrates River.

4 David took from him 1,000 chariots, 7,000 horsemen, and 20,000 foot soldiers (infantrymen). David alsohamstrung [nearly] all the chariot horses [to make them lame and useless], but left enough of them for 100 chariots.

5 When the Arameans (Syrians) ofDamascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David killed 22,000 of the Arameans.

6 Then David putmilitary outpostsamong the Arameans in Damascus; and the Arameans became David’s servants and brought tribute. Thus the Lordhelped David wherever he went.

7 David took the shields of gold which were carried by the servants of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem.

8 Likewise from Tibhath and from Cun, cities of Hadadezer, David brought a very large amount of bronze, with which Solomon later made the bronze Sea (large basin), the pillars, and the utensils of bronze.

9 When Tou king of Hamath heard how David had defeated all the army of Hadadezer king of Zobah,

10 he sent Hadoram his son to King David to greet him and to bless (congratulate) him, because he had fought against Hadadezer and had defeated him; for Hadadezer had been at war with Tou. AndHadoram broughtall kinds of articles of gold and silver and bronze.

11 King David also dedicated these to the Lord[setting them apart for sacred use], with the silver and the gold which he brought from all the nations: from Edom, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, and from Amalek.

12 Also Abishai the son of Zeruiah [David’s half sister] defeated 18,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt.

13 He put military outposts in Edom, and all the Edomites became David’s servants. Thus the Lordhelped David wherever he went.

14 So David reigned over all Israel and administered justice and righteousness for all his people.

15 Joab the son of Zeruiah was in command of the army, and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was the recorder;

16 Zadok the son of Ahitub and Abimelech the son of Abiathar were the priests, and Shavsha was secretary (state scribe);

17 and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was in charge of theCherethites and the Pelethites [David’s bodyguards], and the sons of David were chiefs at the king’s side.