1 Chronicles 13

1 After David had taken counsel with his commanders of thousands and of hundreds, that is to say, with every one of his leaders,
2 he said to the whole assembly of Israel: If it seems good to you, and is so decreed by the LORD our God, let us summon the rest of our brethren from all the districts of Israel, and also the priests and the Levites from their cities with pasture lands, that they may join us;
3 and let us bring the ark of our God here among us, for in the days of Saul we did not visit it.
4 And the whole assembly agreed to do this, for the idea was pleasing to all the people.
5 Then David assembled all Israel, from Shihor of Egypt to Labo of Hamath, to bring the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim.
6 David and all Israel went up to Baalah, that is, to Kiriath-jearim, of Judah, to bring back the ark of God, which was known by the name LORD enthroned upon the cherubim.
7 They transported the ark of God on a new cart from the house of Abinadab; Uzzah and Ahio were guiding the cart,
8 while David and all Israel danced before God with great enthusiasm, amid songs and music on lyres, harps, tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets.
9 As they reached the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzzah stretched out his hand to steady the ark, for the oxen were upsetting it.
10 Then the LORD became angry with Uzzah and struck him; he died there in God's presence, because he had laid his hand on the ark.
11 David was disturbed because the LORD'S anger had broken out against Uzzah. Therefore that place has been called Perez-uzza even to this day.
12 David was now afraid of God, and he said, How can I bring the ark of God with me?
13 Therefore he did not take the ark back with him to the City of David, but he took it instead to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.
14 The ark of God remained in the house of Obed-edom with his family for three months, and the LORD blessed Obed-edom's household and all that he possessed.

1 Chronicles 14

1 Hiram, king of Tyre, sent envoys to David along with masons and carpenters, and cedar wood to build him a house.
2 David now understood that the LORD had truly confirmed him as king over Israel, for his kingdom was greatly exalted for the sake of his people Israel.
3 David took other wives in Jerusalem and became the father of more sons and daughters.
4 These are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,
5 Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet,
6 Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia,
7 Elishama, Beeliada, and Eliphelet.
8 When the Philistines had heard that David was anointed king over all Israel, they went up in unison to seek him out. But when David heard of this, he marched out against them.
9 Meanwhile the Philistines had come and raided the valley of Rephaim.
10 David inquired of God, Shall I advance against the Philistines, and will you deliver them into my power? The LORD answered him, Advance, for I will deliver them into your power.
11 They advanced, therefore, to Baal-perazim, and David defeated them there. Then David said, God has used me to break through my enemies just as water breaks through a dam. Therefore that place was called Baal-perazim.
12 The Philistines had left their gods there, and David ordered them to be burnt.
13 Once again the Philistines raided the valley,
14 and again David inquired of God. But God answered him: Do not try to pursue them, but go around them and come upon them from the direction of the mastic trees.
15 When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the mastic trees, then go forth to battle, for God has already gone before you to strike the army of the Philistines.
16 David did as God commanded him, and they routed the Philistine army from Gibeon to Gezer.
17 Thus David's fame was spread abroad through every land, and the LORD made all the nations fear him.

1 Chronicles 15

1 David built houses for himself in the City of David and prepared a place for the ark of God, pitching a tent for it there.
2 At that time he said, No one may carry the ark of God except the Levites, for the LORD chose them to carry the ark of the LORD and to minister to him forever.
3 Then David assembled all Israel in Jerusalem to bring the ark of the LORD to the place which he had prepared for it.
4 David also called together the sons of Aaron and the Levites:
5 of the sons of Kohath, Uriel, their chief, and one hundred and twenty of his brethren;
6 of the sons of Merari, Asaiah, their chief, and two hundred and twenty of his brethren;
7 of the sons of Gershon, Joel, their chief, and one hundred and thirty of his brethren;
8 of the sons of Elizaphan, Shemaiah, their chief, and two hundred of his brethren;
9 of the sons of Hebron, Eliel, their chief, and eighty of his brethren;
10 of the sons of Uzziel, Amminadab, their chief, and one hundred and twelve of his brethren.
11 David summoned the priests Zadok and Abiathar, and the Levites Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab,
12 and said to them: You, the heads of the levitical families, must sanctify yourselves along with your brethren and bring the ark of the LORD, the God of Israel, to the place which I have prepared for it.
13 Because you were not with us the first time, the wrath of the LORD our God burst upon us, for we did not seek him aright.
14 Accordingly, the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of the LORD, the God of Israel.
15 The Levites bore the ark of God on their shoulders with poles, as Moses had ordained according to the word of the LORD.
16 David commanded the chiefs of the Levites to appoint their brethren as chanters, to play on musical instruments, harps, lyres, and cymbals, to make a loud sound of rejoicing.
17 Therefore the Levites appointed Heman, son of Joel, and, among his brethren, Asaph, son of Berechiah; and among the sons of Merari, their brethren, Ethan, son of Kushaiah;
18 and, together with these, their brethren of the second rank: the gatekeepers Zechariah, Uzziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-edom, and Jeiel.
19 The chanters, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, sounded brass cymbals.
20 Zechariah, Uzziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah played on harps set to Alamoth.
21 But Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-edom, and Jeiel led the chant on lyres set to the eighth.
22 Chenaniah was the chief of the Levites in the chanting; he directed the chanting, for he was skillful.
23 Berechiah and Elkanah were gatekeepers before the ark.
24 The priests, Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer, sounded the trumpets before the ark of God. Obed-edom and Jeiel were also gatekeepers before the ark.
25 Thus David, the elders of Israel, and the commanders of thousands went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD with joy from the house of Obed-edom.
26 While the Levites, with God's help, were bearing the ark of the covenant of the LORD, seven bulls and seven rams were sacrificed.
27 David was clothed in a robe of fine linen, as were all the Levites who carried the ark, the singers, and Chenaniah, the leader of the chant; David was also wearing a linen ephod.
28 Thus all Israel brought back the ark of the covenant of the LORD with joyful shouting, to the sound of horns, trumpets, and cymbals, and the music of harps and lyres.
29 But as the ark of the covenant of the LORD was entering the City of David, Michal, daughter of Saul, looked down from her window, and when she saw King David leaping and dancing, she despised him in her heart.

1 Chronicles 16

1 They brought in the ark of God and set it within the tent which David had pitched for it. Then they offered up holocausts and peace offerings to God.
2 When David had finished offering up the holocausts and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD,
3 and distributed to every Israelite, to every man and every woman, a loaf of bread, a piece of meat, and a raisin cake.
4 He now appointed certain Levites to minister before the ark of the LORD, to celebrate, thank, and praise the LORD, the God of Israel.
5 Asaph was their chief, and second to him were Zechariah, Uzziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-edom, and Jeiel. These were to play on harps and lyres, while Asaph was to sound the cymbals,
6 and the priests Benaiah and Jahaziel were to be the regular trumpeters before the ark of the covenant of God.
7 Then, on that same day, David appointed Asaph and his brethren to sing for the first time these praises of the LORD:
8 Give thanks to the LORD, invoke his name; make known among the nations his deeds.
9 Sing to him, sing his praise, proclaim all his wondrous deeds.
10 Glory in his holy name; rejoice, O hearts that seek the LORD!
11 Look to the LORD in his strength; seek to serve him constantly.
12 Recall the wondrous deeds that he has wrought, his portents, and the judgments he has uttered,
13 You descendants of Israel, his servants, sons of Jacob, his chosen ones!
14 He, the LORD, is our God; throughout the earth his judgments prevail.
15 He remembers forever his covenant which he made binding for a thousand generations--
16 Which he entered into with Abraham and by his oath to Isaac;
17 Which he established for Jacob by statute, for Israel as an everlasting covenant,
18 Saying, To you will I give the land of Canaan as your allotted inheritance.
19 When they were few in number, a handful, and strangers there,
20 Wandering from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another people,
21 He let no one oppress them, and for their sake he rebuked kings:
22 Touch not my anointed, and to my prophets do no harm.
23 Sing to the LORD, all the earth, announce his salvation, day after day
24 Tell his glory among the nations; among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.
25 For great is the LORD and highly to be praised; and awesome is he, beyond all gods.
26 For all the gods of the nations are things of nought, but the LORD made the heavens.
27 Splendor and majesty go before him; praise and joy are in his holy place.
28 Give to the LORD, you families of nations, give to the LORD glory and praise;
29 Give to the LORD the glory due his name! Bring gifts, and enter his presence; worship the LORD in holy attire.
30 Tremble before him, all the earth; he has made the world firm, not to be moved.
31 Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice; let them say among the nations: The LORD is king.
32 Let the sea and what fills it resound; let the plains rejoice and all that is in them!
33 Then shall all the trees of the forest exult before the LORD, for he comes: he comes to rule the earth.
34 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his kindness endures forever;
35 And say, Save us, O God, our savior, gather us and deliver us from the nations, That we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in praising you.
36 Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, through all eternity! Let all the people say, Amen! Alleluia.
37 Then David left Asaph and his brethren there before the ark of the covenant of the LORD to minister before the ark regularly according to the daily ritual;
38 he also left there Obed-edom and sixty-eight of his brethren, including Obed-edom, son of Jeduthun, and Hosah, to be gatekeepers.
39 But the priest Zadok and his priestly brethren he left before the Dwelling of the LORD on the high place at Gibeon,
40 to offer holocausts to the LORD on the altar of holocausts regularly, morning and evening, and to do all that is written in the law of the LORD which he has decreed for Israel.
41 With them were Heman and Jeduthun and the others who were chosen and designated by name to give thanks to the LORD, because his kindness endures forever,
42 with trumpets and cymbals for accompaniment, and instruments for the sacred chant. The sons of Jeduthun kept the gate.
43 Then all the people departed, each to his own home, and David returned to bless his household.