New King James Version (NKJV)

1 Soall Israel was recorded by genealogies, and indeed, theywereinscribed in the book of the kings of Israel. But Judah was carried away captive to Babylon because of their unfaithfulness.

2 And the first inhabitants whodweltin their possessions in their citieswereIsraelites, priests, Levites, andthe Nethinim.

Dwellers in Jerusalem

3 Now inJerusalem the children of Judah dwelt, and some of the children of Benjamin, and of the children of Ephraim and Manasseh:

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

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

6 Of the sons of Zerah: Jeuel, and their brethren—six hundred and ninety.

7 Of 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; Meshullam the son of Shephatiah, the son of Reuel, the son of Ibnijah;

9 and their brethren, according to their generations—nine hundred and fifty-six. All these menwereheads of a father’shousein their fathers’ houses.

The Priests at Jerusalem

10 Of the priests: Jedaiah, Jehoiarib, and Jachin;

11 Azariah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, theofficer over the house of God;

12 Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son of Pashur, 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 brethren, heads of their fathers’ houses—one thousand seven hundred and sixty.Theywerevery able men for the work of the service of the house of God.

The Levites at Jerusalem

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

15 Bakbakkar, Heresh, Galal, and Mattaniah the son of Micah, the son ofZichri, the son of Asaph;

16 Obadiah the son ofShemaiah, 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.

The Levite Gatekeepers

17 And the gatekeeperswereShallum, Akkub, Talmon, Ahiman, and their brethren. Shallumwasthe chief.

18 Until thentheyhadbeengatekeepers for the camps of the children of Levi at the King’s Gate on the east.

19 Shallum the son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, and his brethren, from his father’s house, the Korahites,werein charge of the work of the service, gatekeepers of the tabernacle. Their fathers had been keepers of the entrance to the camp of theLord.

20 AndPhinehas the son of Eleazar had been the officer over them in time past; theLordwaswith him.

21 Zechariah the son of Meshelemiahwaskeeper of the door of the tabernacle of meeting.

22 All those chosen as gatekeepersweretwo hundred and twelve.They were recorded by their genealogy, in their villages. David and Samuelthe seer had appointed them to their trusted office.

23 So they and their childrenwerein charge of the gates of the house of theLord, the house of the tabernacle, by assignment.

24 The gatekeepers were assigned to the four directions: the east, west, north, and south.

25 And their brethren in their villageshadto come with them from time to timefor seven days.

26 For in this trusted officewerefour chief gatekeepers; they were Levites. And they had charge over the chambers and treasuries of the house of God.

27 And they lodgedallaround the house of God because theyhadtheresponsibility, and theywerein charge of openingitevery morning.

Other Levite Responsibilities

28 Nowsomeof them were in charge of the serving vessels, for they brought them in and took them out by count.

29 Someof themwereappointed over the furnishings and over all the implements of the sanctuary, and over thefine flour and the wine and the oil and the incense and the spices.

30 Andsomeof the sons of the priests madethe ointment of the spices.

31 Mattithiah of the Levites, the firstborn of Shallum the Korahite, had the trusted officeover the things that were baked in the pans.

32 And some of their brethren of the sons of the Kohathiteswerein charge of preparing the showbread for every Sabbath.

33 These arethe singers, heads of the fathers’housesof the Levites,wholodgedin the chambers,andwerefreefromotherduties;for they were employed inthatwork day and night.

34 These heads of the fathers’housesof the Leviteswereheads throughout their generations. They dwelt at Jerusalem.

The Family of King Saul

35 Jeiel the father of Gibeon, whose wife’s namewasMaacah, dwelt at Gibeon.

36 His firstborn sonwasAbdon, then Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner, Nadab,

37 Gedor, Ahio, Zechariah, and Mikloth.

38 And Mikloth begot Shimeam. They also dwelt alongside their relatives in Jerusalem, with their brethren.

39 Ner begot Kish, Kish begot Saul, and Saul begot Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, and Esh-Baal.

40 The son of JonathanwasMerib-Baal, and Merib-Baal begot Micah.

41 The sons of MicahwerePithon, Melech, Tahrea, and Ahaz.

42 And Ahaz begot Jarah; Jarah begot Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri; and Zimri begot Moza;

43 Moza begot Binea, Rephaiah his son, Eleasah his son, and Azel his son.

44 And Azel had six sons whose nameswerethese: Azrikam, Bocheru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan; thesewerethe sons of Azel.

Tragic End of Saul and His Sons

1 Nowthe Philistines fought against Israel; and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell slain on Mount Gilboa.

2 Then the Philistines followed hard after Saul and his sons. And the Philistines killed Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua, Saul’s sons.

3 The battle became fierce against Saul. The archers hit him, and he was wounded by the archers.

4 Then Saul said to his armorbearer, “Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised men come and abuse me.” But his armorbearer would not, for he was greatly afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword and fell on it.

5 And when his armorbearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell on his sword and died.

6 So Saul and his three sons died, and all his house died together.

7 And when all the men of Israel whowerein the valley saw that they had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook their cities and fled; then the Philistines came and dwelt in them.

8 So it happened the next day, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his sons fallen on Mount Gilboa.

9 And they stripped him and took his head and his armor, and sent word throughout the land of the Philistines to proclaim the newsinthetempleof their idols and among the people.

10 Then they put his armor in the temple of their gods, and fastened his head in the temple of Dagon.

11 And when all Jabesh Gilead heard all that the Philistines had done to Saul,

12 all thevaliant men arose and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons; and they brought them toJabesh, and buried their bones under the tamarisk tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days.

13 So Saul died for his unfaithfulness which he had committed against theLord,because he did not keep the word of theLord, and also becausehe consulted a medium for guidance.

14 Buthedid not inquire of theLord; therefore He killed him, andturned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse.

David Made King over All Israel

1 Thenall Israel came together to David at Hebron, saying, “Indeed weareyour bone and your flesh.

2 Also, in time past, even when Saul was king, youwerethe one who led Israel out and brought them in; and theLordyourGod said to you, ‘You shallshepherd My people Israel, and be ruler over My people Israel.’ ”

3 Therefore all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and David made a covenant with them at Hebron before theLord. Andthey anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of theLordbySamuel.

The City of David

4 And David and all Israelwent to Jerusalem, which is Jebus,where the Jebusiteswere,the inhabitants of the land.

5 But the inhabitants of Jebus said to David, “You shall not come in here!” Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion (that is, the City of David).

6 Now David said, “Whoever attacks the Jebusites first shall be chief and captain.” And Joab the son of Zeruiah went up first, and became chief.

7 Then David dwelt in the stronghold; therefore they called it the City of David.

8 And he built the city around it, from the Millo to the surrounding area. Joab repaired the rest of the city.

9 So Davidwent on and became great, and theLordof hostswaswithhim.

The Mighty Men of David

10 Nowthesewerethe heads of the mighty men whom David had, who strengthened themselves with him in his kingdom, with all Israel, to make him king, according tothe word of theLordconcerning Israel.

11 And thisisthe number of the mighty men whom David had:Jashobeam the son of a Hachmonite,chief of the captains; he had lifted up his spear against three hundred, killedbyhimat one time.

12 After himwasEleazar the son ofDodo, the Ahohite, whowasoneof the three mighty men.

13 He was with David at Pasdammim. Now there the Philistines were gathered for battle, and there was a piece of ground full of barley. So the people fled from the Philistines.

14 But they stationed themselves in the middle ofthatfield, defended it, and killed the Philistines. So theLordbrought about a great victory.

15 Now three of the thirty chief menwent down to the rock to David, into the cave of Adullam; and the army of the Philistines encampedin the Valley of Rephaim.

16 Davidwasthen in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistineswasthen in Bethlehem.

17 And David said with longing, “Oh, that someone would give me a drink of water from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!”

18 So the three broke through the camp of the Philistines, drew water from the well of Bethlehem thatwasby the gate, and tookitand broughtitto David. Nevertheless David would not drink it, but poured it out to theLord.

19 And he said, “Far be it from me, O my God, that I should do this! Shall I drink the blood of these menwhohaveputtheir livesinjeopardy?For at the risk of their lives they brought it.” Therefore he would not drink it. These things were done by the three mighty men.

20 Abishai the brother of Joab was chief ofanotherthree. He had lifted up his spear against three hundredmen,killedthem,and won a name amongthesethree.

21 Of the three he was more honored than the other two men. Therefore he became their captain. However he did not attain to thefirstthree.

22 Benaiah was the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man from Kabzeel, who had done many deeds.He had killed two lion-like heroes of Moab. He also had gone down and killed a lion in the midst of a pit on a snowy day.

23 And he killed an Egyptian, a man ofgreatheight, five cubits tall. In the Egyptian’s handtherewasa spear like a weaver’s beam; and he went down to him with a staff, wrested the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and killed him with his own spear.

24 ThesethingsBenaiah the son of Jehoiada did, and won a name among three mighty men.

25 Indeed he was more honored than the thirty, but he did not attain to thefirstthree. And David appointed him over his guard.

26 Also the mighty warriorswereAsahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem,

27 Shammoth the Harorite,Helez the Pelonite,

28 Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite,Abiezer the Anathothite,

29 Sibbechai 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 sons of Benjamin,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 Shageh 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 armorbearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah),

40 Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,

41 Uriah the Hittite, Zabad the son of Ahlai,

42 Adina the son of Shiza the Reubenite (a chief of the Reubenites) and thirty with him,

43 Hanan the son of Maachah, Joshaphat the Mithnite,

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

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

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

47 Eliel, Obed, and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.

The Growth of David’s Army

1 Nowthesewerethe men who came to David atZiklag while he was still a fugitive from Saul the son of Kish; and theywereamong the mighty men, helpers in the war,

2 armed with bows, using both the right hand andthe left inhurlingstones andshootingarrows with the bow.Theywereof Benjamin, Saul’s brethren.

3 The chiefwasAhiezer, then Joash, the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite; Jeziel and Pelet the sons of Azmaveth; Berachah, and Jehu the Anathothite;

4 Ishmaiah the Gibeonite, a mighty man among the thirty, and over the thirty; Jeremiah, Jahaziel, Johanan, and Jozabad the Gederathite;

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

6 Elkanah, Jisshiah, Azarel, Joezer, and Jashobeam, the Korahites;

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

8 SomeGadites joined David at the stronghold in the wilderness, mighty men of valor, men trained for battle, who could handle shield and spear, whose faceswerelikethe faces of lions, andwereas swift as gazelles on the mountains:

9 Ezer 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, and Machbanai the eleventh.

14 Thesewerefrom the sons of Gad, captains of the army; the least was over a hundred, and the greatest was over athousand.

15 Thesearethe ones who crossed the Jordan in the first month, when it had overflowed all itsbanks; and they put to flight allthosein the valleys, to the east and to the west.

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

17 And David went out to meet them, and answered and said to them, “If you have come peaceably to me to help me, my heart will be united with you; but if to betray me to my enemies, sincethereisno wrong in my hands, may the God of our fathers look and bring judgment.”

18 Then the Spirit came uponAmasai, chief of the captains,andhesaid:

“Weareyours, O David;

Weareon your side, O son of Jesse!

Peace, peace to you,

And peace to your helpers!

For your God helps you.”

So David received them, and made them captains of the troop.

19 Andsomefrom Manasseh defected to Davidwhen he was going with the Philistines to battle against Saul; but they did not help them, for the lords of the Philistines sent him away by agreement, saying,“He may defect to his master Saulandendangerour heads.”

20 When he went to Ziklag, those of Manasseh who defected to him were Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai, captains of the thousands whowerefrom Manasseh.

21 And they helped David againstthe bandsofraiders,for theywereall mighty men of valor, and they were captains in the army.

22 For atthattime they came to David day by day to help him, untilitwasa great army,like the army of God.

David’s Army at Hebron

23 Now thesewerethe numbers of the divisionsthatwereequipped for war,andcame to David atHebron toturnoverthe kingdom of Saul to him,according to the word of theLord:

24 of the sons of Judah bearing shield and spear, six thousand eight hundred armed for war;

25 of the sons of Simeon, mighty men of valor fit for war, seven thousand one hundred;

26 of the sons of Levi four thousand six hundred;

27 Jehoiada, the leader of the Aaronites, and with him three thousand seven hundred;

28 Zadok, a young man, a valiant warrior, and from his father’s house twenty-two captains;

29 of the sons of Benjamin, relatives of Saul, three thousand (until thenthe greatest part of them had remained loyal to the house of Saul);

30 of the sons of Ephraim twenty thousand eight hundred, mighty men of valor, famous men throughout their father’s house;

31 of the half-tribe of Manasseh eighteen thousand, who were designated by name to come and make David king;

32 of the sons of Issacharwho had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, their chiefs were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their command;

33 of Zebulun there were fifty thousand who went out to battle, expert in war with all weapons of war,stouthearted men who could keep ranks;

34 of Naphtali one thousand captains, and with them thirty-seven thousand with shield and spear;

35 of the Danites who could keep battle formation, twenty-eight thousand six hundred;

36 of Asher, those who could go out to war, able to keep battle formation, forty thousand;

37 of the Reubenites and the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh, from the other side of the Jordan, one hundred and twenty thousand armed for battle with everykindof weapon of war.

38 All these men of war, who could keep ranks, came to Hebron with a loyal heart, to make David king over all Israel; and all the rest of Israelwereofone mind to make David king.

39 And they were there with David three days, eating and drinking, for their brethren had prepared for them.

40 Moreover those who were near to them, from as far away as Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, were bringing food on donkeys and camels, on mules and oxen—provisions of flour and cakes of figs and cakes of raisins, wine and oil and oxen and sheep abundantly, fortherewasjoy in Israel.

The Ark Brought from Kirjath Jearim

1 Then David consulted with thecaptains of thousands and hundreds,andwith every leader.

2 And David said to all the assembly of Israel, “Ifitseemsgood to you, and if it is of theLordour God, let us send out to our brethren everywherewhoareleft in all the land of Israel, and with them to the priests and Leviteswhoarein their citiesandtheir common-lands, that they may gather together to us;

3 and let us bring the ark of our God back to us,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 SoDavid gathered all Israel together, fromShihor in Egypt to as far as the entrance of Hamath, to bring the ark of Godfrom Kirjath Jearim.

6 And David and all Israel went up toBaalah, to Kirjath Jearim, which belonged to Judah, to bring up from there the ark of God theLord,who dwellsbetweenthe cherubim, whereHisname is proclaimed.

7 So they carried the ark of Godon a new cartfrom the house of Abinadab, and Uzza and Ahio drove the cart.

8 ThenDavid and all Israel playedmusicbefore God with alltheirmight, with singing, on harps, on stringed instruments, on tambourines, on cymbals, and with trumpets.

9 And when they came to Chidon’s threshing floor, Uzza put out his hand to hold the ark, for the oxen stumbled.

10 Then the anger of theLordwas aroused against Uzza, and He struck himbecause he put his hand to the ark; and hedied there before God.

11 And David became angry because of theLord’s outbreak against Uzza; therefore that place is called 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 The ark of God remained with the family of Obed-Edom in his house three months. And theLordblessedthe house of Obed-Edom and all that he had.

David Established at Jerusalem

1 NowHiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, with masons and carpenters, to build him a house.

2 So David knew that theLordhad established him as king over Israel, for his kingdom washighly exalted for the sake of His people Israel.

3 Then David took more wives in Jerusalem, and David begot more sons and daughters.

4 Andthese are the names of his children whom he had in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,

5 Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet,

6 Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia,

7 Elishama, Beeliada, and Eliphelet.

The Philistines Defeated

8 Now when the Philistines heard thatDavid had been anointed king over all Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. And David heardofitand went out against them.

9 Then the Philistines went and made a raidon the Valley of Rephaim.

10 And Davidinquired of God, saying, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?”

TheLordsaid 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 Baal Perazim.

12 And when they left their gods there, David gave a commandment, and they were burned with fire.

13 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,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 Gibeon as far as Gezer.

17 Thenthe fame of David went out into all lands, and theLordbrought the fear of him upon all nations.

The Ark Brought 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 may carry theark of God but the Levites, fortheLordhas chosen them to carry the ark of God and to minister before Him forever.”

3 And Davidgathered all Israel together at Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of theLordto 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 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 ofElizaphan, Shemaiah the chief, and two hundred of his brethren;

9 of the sons ofHebron, 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 forZadok andAbiathar the priests, and for the Levites: for Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab.

12 He said to them, “Youarethe heads of the fathers’housesof the Levites; sanctify yourselves, you and your brethren, that you may bring up the ark of theLordGod of Israel totheplaceI have prepared for it.

13 Forbecause youdidnotdoitthe firsttime,theLordour God broke out against us, because we did not consult Him about the proper order.”

14 So the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of theLordGod of Israel.

15 And the children of the Levites bore the ark of God on their shoulders, by its poles, asMoses had commanded according to the word of theLord.

16 Then David spoke to the leaders of the Levites to appoint their brethrentobethe singers accompanied by instruments of music, stringed instruments, harps, and cymbals, by raising the voice with resounding joy.

17 So the Levites appointedHeman the son of Joel; and of his brethren,Asaph the son of Berechiah; and of their brethren, the sons of Merari,Ethan the son of Kushaiah;

18 and with them their brethren of the secondrank:Zechariah, Ben, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Elipheleh, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, and Jeiel, the gatekeepers;

19 the singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan,wereto sound the cymbals of bronze;

20 Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah, with strings according toAlamoth;

21 Mattithiah, Elipheleh, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah, to direct with harps on theSheminith;

22 Chenaniah, leader of the Levites, was instructorinchargeofthe music, because hewasskillful;

23 Berechiah and Elkanahweredoorkeepers for the ark;

24 Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer, the priests,were to blow the trumpets before the ark of God; andObed-Edom and Jehiah, doorkeepers for the ark.

25 SoDavid, the elders of Israel, and the captains over thousands went to bring up the ark of the covenant of theLordfrom 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 theLord, that they offered seven bulls and seven rams.

27 David was clothed with a robe of finelinen, as were all the Levites who bore the ark, the singers, and Chenaniah the music masterwiththe singers. David also wore a linen ephod.

28 Thus all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of theLordwith shouting and with the sound of the horn, with trumpets and with cymbals, making music with stringed instruments and harps.

29 And it happened,asthe ark of the covenant of theLordcame 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.

The Ark Placed in the Tabernacle

1 Sothey brought the ark of God, and set it in the midst of the tabernacle that David had erected for it. Then they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before God.

2 And when David had finished offering the burnt offerings and the peace offerings,he blessed the people in the name of theLord.

3 Then he distributed to everyone of Israel, both man and woman, to everyone a loaf of bread, a pieceofmeat,and a cake of raisins.

4 And he appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of theLord, tocommemorate, to thank, and to praise theLordGod of Israel:

5 Asaph the chief, and next to him Zechariah,thenJeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, and Obed-Edom: Jeiel with stringed instruments and harps, but Asaph made music with cymbals;

6 Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests regularlyblewthe trumpets before the ark of the covenant of God.

David’s Song of Thanksgiving

7 On that dayDavidfirst deliveredthispsalminto the hand of Asaph and his brethren, to thank theLord:

8 Oh, give thanks to theLord!

Call upon His name;

Make known His deeds among the peoples!

9 Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him;

Talk of all His wondrous works!

10 Glory in His holy name;

Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek theLord!

11 Seek theLordand His strength;

Seek His face evermore!

12 Remember His marvelous works which He has done,

His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth,

13 O seed of Israel His servant,

You children of Jacob, His chosen ones!

14 HeistheLordour God;

# Hisjudgmentsarein all the earth.

15 Remember His covenant forever,

The word which He commanded, for a thousand generations,

16 Thecovenant which He made with Abraham,

And His oath to Isaac,

17 Andconfirmed it toJacob for a statute,

To Israelforan everlasting covenant,

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

As the allotment of your inheritance,”

19 When you werefew in number,

Indeed very few, and strangers in it.

20 When they went from one nation to another,

And fromonekingdom to another people,

21 He permitted no man to do them wrong;

# Yes, Herebuked kings for their sakes,

22 Saying,“Do not touch My anointed ones,

And do My prophets no harm.”

23 Sing to theLord, all the earth;

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

24 Declare His glory among the nations,

His wonders among all peoples.

25 For theLordisgreat and greatly to be praised;

Heisalso to be feared above all gods.

26 For all the godsof the peoplesareidols,

But theLordmade the heavens.

27 Honor and majestyarebefore Him;

Strength and gladness are in His place.

28 Give to theLord, O families of the peoples,

Give to theLordglory and strength.

29 Give to theLordthe glorydueHis name;

Bring an offering, and come before Him.

Oh, worship theLordin the beauty of holiness!

30 Tremble before Him, all the earth.

The world also is firmly established,

It shall not be moved.

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

And let them say among the nations, “TheLordreigns.”

32 Let the sea roar, and all its fullness;

Let the field rejoice, and all thatisin it.

33 Then thetrees of the woods shall rejoice before theLord,

# For He iscoming to judge the earth.

34 Oh, give thanks to theLord, forHeisgood!

For His mercyenduresforever.

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

Gather us together, and deliver us from the Gentiles,

To give thanks to Your holy name,

To triumph in Your praise.”

36 BlessedbetheLordGod of Israel

From everlasting to everlasting!

# And allthe people said, “Amen!” and praised theLord.

Regular Worship Maintained

37 So he leftAsaph and his brothers there before the ark of the covenant of theLordto minister before the ark regularly, as every day’s workrequired;

38 andObed-Edom with his sixty-eight brethren, including Obed-Edom the son of Jeduthun, and Hosah,tobegatekeepers;

39 and Zadok the priest and his brethren the priests,before the tabernacle of theLordat the high place thatwasat Gibeon,

40 to offer burnt offerings to theLordon the altar of burnt offering regularlymorning and evening, andtodoaccording to all that is written in the Law of theLordwhich He commanded Israel;

41 and with them Heman and Jeduthun and the rest who were chosen, who were designated by name, to give thanks to theLord,because His mercyenduresforever;

42 and with them Heman and Jeduthun, to sound aloud with trumpets and cymbals and the musical instruments of God. Now the sons of Jeduthunweregatekeepers.

43 Then all the people departed, every man to his house; and David returned to bless his house.

God’s Covenant with David

1 Nowit came to pass, when David was dwelling in his house, that David said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of theLordisunder tent curtains.”

2 Then Nathan said to David, “Do all thatisin your heart, for Godiswith you.”

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

4 “Go and tell My servant David, ‘Thus says theLord: “You shallnot build Me a house to dwell in.

5 For I have not dwelt in a house since the time that I brought up Israel, even to this day, but have gone from tent to tent, and fromonetabernacletoanother.

6 Wherever I have moved about with all Israel, have I ever spoken a word to any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd My people, saying, ‘Why have you not built Me a house of cedar–’ ” ’

7 Now therefore, thus shall you say to My servant David, ‘Thus says theLordof hosts: “I took youfrom the sheepfold, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people Israel.

8 And I have been with you wherever you have gone, and have cut off all your enemies from before you, and have made you a name like the name of the great men whoareon the earth.

9 Moreover I will appoint a place for My people Israel, and willplant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own and move no more; nor shall the sons of wickedness oppress them anymore, as previously,

10 since the time that I commanded judgestobeover My people Israel. Also I will subdue all your enemies. Furthermore I tell you that theLordwill build you a house.

11 And it shall be, when your days arefulfilled, when you must gotobewith your fathers, that I will set up yourseed after you, who will be of your 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 mercy away from him,as I tookitfromhimwho was before you.

14 AndI will establish him in My house and in My kingdom forever; and his throne shall be established forever.” ’ ”

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

16 Then King David went in and sat before theLord; and he said: “WhoamI, OLordGod? And what is my house, that You have brought me this far?

17 Andyetthis was a small thing in Your sight, O God; and You havealsospoken of Your servant’s house for a great while to come, and have regarded me according to the rank of a man of high degree, OLordGod.

18 What more can Davidsayto You for the honor of Your servant? For You know Your servant.

19 OLord, for Your servant’s sake, and according to Your own heart, You have done all this greatness, in making known all these great things.

20 OLord,thereisnone like You, noristhereanyGod besides You, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

21 And whoislike Your people Israel, the one nation on the earth whom God went to redeem for Himselfasa people—to make for Yourself a name by great and awesome deeds, by driving out nations from before Your people whom You redeemed from Egypt?

22 For You have made Your people Israel Your very own people forever; and You,Lord, have become their God.

23 “And now, OLord, the word which You have spoken concerning Your servant and concerning his house,letitbe established forever, and do as You have said.

24 So let it be established, that Your name may be magnified forever, saying, ‘TheLordof hosts, the God of Israel,isIsrael’s God.’ And let the house of Your servant David be established before You.

25 For You, O my God, have revealed to Your servant that You will build him a house. Therefore Your servant has found itinhisheartto pray before You.

26 And now,Lord, You are God, and have promised this goodness to Your servant.

27 Now You have been pleased to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue before You forever; for You have blessed it, OLord, anditshallbeblessed forever.”

David’s Further Conquests

1 After thisit came to pass that David attacked the Philistines, subdued them, and took Gath and its towns from the hand of the Philistines.

2 Then he defeatedMoab, and the Moabites became David’sservants,andbrought tribute.

3 AndDavid defeated Hadadezer king of ZobahasfarasHamath, as he went to establish his power by the River Euphrates.

4 David took from him one thousand chariots, seven thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand foot soldiers. Also David hamstrung all the chariothorses,except that he spared enough of them for one hundred chariots.

5 When theSyrians of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David killed twenty-two thousand of the Syrians.

6 Then David putgarrisonsin Syria of Damascus; and the Syrians became David’s servants,andbrought tribute. So theLordpreserved David wherever he went.

7 And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.

8 Also from Tibhath and from Chun, cities of Hadadezer, David brought a large amount ofbronze, with whichSolomon made the bronze Sea, the pillars, and the articles of bronze.

9 Now when Tou king of Hamath heard that David had defeated all the army of Hadadezer king of Zobah,

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

11 King David also dedicated these to theLord, along with the silver and gold that he had brought from allthesenations—from Edom, from Moab, from thepeople of Ammon, from thePhilistines, and fromAmalek.

12 MoreoverAbishai the son of Zeruiah killedeighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.

13 He also put garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites became David’s servants. And theLordpreserved David wherever he went.

David’s Administration

14 So David reigned over all Israel, and administered judgment and justice to all his people.

15 Joab the son of Zeruiahwasover the army; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahiludwasrecorder;

16 Zadok the son of Ahitub and Abimelech the son of Abiatharwerethe priests; Shavshawasthe scribe;

17 Benaiah the son of Jehoiadawasover the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David’s sonswerechief ministers at the king’s side.