The Mighty Men Join David

12 ^xNow these are the men who came to David at Ziklag, while he could not move about freely because of Saul the son of Kish. And they were among the mighty men who helped him in war. 2 They ^ywere bowmen and could shoot arrows and sling stones with either the right or the ^zleft hand; they were Benjaminites, ^aSaul’s kinsmen. 3 The chief was Ahiezer, then Joash, both sons of Shemaah of ^bGibeah; also Jeziel and Pelet, the sons of Azmaveth; Beracah, Jehu of ^cAnathoth, 4 Ishmaiah of ^dGibeon, a mighty man among the thirty and a leader over the thirty; Jeremiah,¹ Jahaziel, Johanan, Jozabad of Gederah, 5 Eluzai,² Jerimoth, Bealiah, Shemariah, Shephatiah the Haruphite; 6 Elkanah, Isshiah, Azarel, Joezer, and Jashobeam, the ^eKorahites; 7 And Joelah and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham of Gedor.

8 From the Gadites there went over to David at the stronghold in the wilderness mighty and experienced warriors, expert with shield and spear, whose faces were like the faces of lions and who were ^fswift as gazelles upon the mountains: 9 Ezer the chief, Obadiah second, Eliab third, 10 Mishmannah fourth, Jeremiah fifth, 11 Attai sixth, Eliel seventh, 12 Johanan eighth, Elzabad ninth, 13 Jeremiah tenth, Machbannai eleventh. 14 These Gadites were officers of the army; the least was a ^gmatch for a hundred men and the greatest for a thousand. 15 These are the men who crossed the Jordan in the first month, when it was ^hoverflowing all its banks, and put to flight all those in the valleys, to the east and to the west.

16 And some of the men 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 to me in friendship to help me, my heart will be joined to you; but if to betray me to my adversaries, although there is no wrong in my hands, then may the God of our fathers see and rebuke you.” 18 Then ⁱthe Spirit clothed ^jAmasai, chief of the thirty, and he said,

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

19 Some of the men of Manasseh deserted to David ^lwhen he came with the Philistines for the battle against Saul. (Yet he did not help them, for the rulers of the Philistines took counsel and sent him away, saying, ^m“At peril to our heads he will desert to his master Saul.”) 20 As he went to Ziklag, these men of Manasseh deserted to him: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai, chiefs of thousands in Manasseh. 21 They helped David against ⁿthe band of raiders, for they were all mighty men of valor and were commanders in the army. 22 For from day to day men came to David to help him, until there was a great army, like an army of God.

23 These are the numbers of the divisions of the armed troops ^owho came to David in Hebron ^pto turn the kingdom of Saul over to him, ^qaccording to the word of the Lord. 24 The men of Judah bearing shield and spear were 6,800 armed troops. 25 Of the Simeonites, mighty men of valor for war, 7,100. 26 Of the Levites 4,600. 27 The prince Jehoiada, of the house of Aaron, and with him 3,700. 28 ^rZadok, a young man mighty in valor, and twenty-two commanders from his own fathers’ house. 29 Of the Benjaminites, ^sthe kinsmen of Saul, 3,000, of whom the ^tmajority had to that point kept their allegiance to the house of Saul. 30 Of the Ephraimites 20,800, mighty men of valor, famous men in their fathers’ houses. 31 Of the half-tribe of Manasseh 18,000, who were ^uexpressly named to come and make David king. 32 Of Issachar, men who ^vhad understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, 200 chiefs, and all their kinsmen under their command. 33 Of Zebulun 50,000 seasoned troops, ^wequipped for battle with all the weapons of war, to help David³ with ^xsingleness of purpose. 34 Of Naphtali 1,000 commanders with whom were 37,000 men armed with shield and spear. 35 Of the Danites 28,600 men equipped for battle. 36 Of ^yAsher 40,000 ^zseasoned troops ^zready for battle. 37 Of the Reubenites and Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh from beyond the Jordan, 120,000 men armed with all the weapons of war.

38 All these, men of war, arrayed in battle order, came to Hebron with ^aa whole heart to make David king over all Israel. Likewise, all the rest of Israel were of a ^bsingle mind to make David king. 39 And they were there with David for three days, eating and drinking, for their brothers had made preparation for them. 40 And also their relatives, from as far as Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, came bringing food on donkeys and on camels and on mules and on oxen, abundant provisions of flour, ^ccakes of figs, clusters of raisins, and wine and oil, oxen and sheep, for there was joy in Israel.

The Ark Brought from Kiriath-Jearim

13 David consulted with the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, with every leader. 2 And David said to all the assembly of Israel, “If it seems good to you and from the Lord our God, let us send abroad to our brothers ^dwho remain in all the lands of Israel, as well as to the priests and Levites in the cities that have pasturelands, that they may be gathered to us. 3 Then let us bring again the ark of our God to us, ^efor we did not seek it¹ in the days of Saul.” 4 All the assembly agreed to do so, for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people.

Uzzah and the Ark

5 ^fSo David assembled all Israel ^gfrom the ^hNile² of Egypt to Lebo-hamath, to bring the ark of God ⁱfrom Kiriath-jearim. 6 ^jAnd David and all Israel went up to ^kBaalah, that is, to Kiriath-jearim that belongs to Judah, to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the name of the Lord who ^lsits enthroned above the cherubim. 7 And they carried the ark of God on a new cart, from the house of ^mAbinadab, and Uzzah and Ahio³ were driving the cart. 8 And David and all Israel were celebrating before God with all their might, with song and ⁿlyres and harps and tambourines and cymbals and trumpets.

9 And when they came to the threshing floor of ^oChidon, Uzzah put out his hand to take hold of the ark, for the oxen stumbled. 10 And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah, and he struck him down ^pbecause he put out his hand to the ark, and ^qhe died there before God. 11 And David was angry because the Lord had broken out against Uzzah. And that place is called Perez-uzza⁴ to this day. 12 And David was afraid of God that day, and he said, “How can I bring the ark of God home to me?” 13 So David did not take the ark home into the city of David, but took it aside to the house ^rof Obed-edom the Gittite. 14 And the ark of God remained with the household of Obed-edom in his house three months. ^sAnd the Lord blessed the household of Obed-edom and all that he had.

David’s Wives and Children

14 ^tAnd Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, also masons and carpenters to build a house for him. 2 And David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel, and that his kingdom was highly exalted for the sake of his people Israel.

3 And David took more wives in Jerusalem, and David fathered more sons and daughters. 4 ^uThese are the names of the children born to him in Jerusalem: ^vShammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, 5 Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet, 6 Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, 7 Elishama, ^wBeeliada and ^xEliphelet.

Philistines Defeated

8 When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. But David heard of it and went out against them. 9 Now the Philistines had come and ^ymade a raid in the ^zValley of Rephaim. 10 And David inquired of God, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you give them into my hand?” And the Lord said to him, “Go up, and I will give them into your hand.” 11 And he went up to Baal-perazim, and David struck them down there. And David said, “God has broken through¹ my enemies by my hand, like a bursting flood.” Therefore the name of that place is called Baal-perazim. 12 And they left their gods there, and David gave command, and they were burned.

13 And the Philistines yet again ^amade a raid in the valley. 14 And when David again inquired of God, ^bGod said to him, “You shall not go up after them; go around and come against them opposite the balsam trees. 15 And when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then go out to battle, for God has gone out before you to strike down the army of the Philistines.” 16 And David did as God commanded him, and they struck down the Philistine army from Gibeon to Gezer. 17 And the fame of David went out into all lands, and the Lord brought the ^cfear of him upon all nations.

The Ark Brought to Jerusalem

15 David¹ built houses for himself in the city of David. And he prepared a place for the ark of God and ^dpitched a tent for it. 2 Then David said that no one but the Levites may carry ^ethe ark of God, for the Lord had chosen them to carry the ark of the Lord and to minister to him forever. 3 ^fAnd David assembled all Israel at Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the Lord ^gto its place, which he had prepared for it. 4 And David gathered together the sons of Aaron and ^hthe Levites: 5 of the sons of Kohath, Uriel the chief, with 120 of his brothers; 6 of the sons of Merari, Asaiah the chief, with 220 of his brothers; 7 of the sons of Gershom, Joel the chief, with 130 of his brothers; 8 of the sons of Elizaphan, Shemaiah the chief, with 200 of his brothers; 9 of the sons of Hebron, Eliel the chief, with 80 of his brothers; 10 of the sons of Uzziel, Amminadab the chief, with 112 of his brothers. 11 Then David summoned the priests ⁱZadok and ^jAbiathar, and the Levites Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab, 12 and said to them, “You are the heads of the fathers’ houses of the Levites. ^kConsecrate yourselves, you and your brothers, so that you may bring up the ark of the Lord, the God of Israel, ^lto the place that I have prepared for it. 13 ^mBecause you did not carry it the first time, the Lord our God broke out against us, because we did not seek him according to the rule.” 14 So the priests and the Levites consecrated themselves to bring up the ark of the Lord, the God of Israel. 15 And the Levites carried the ark of God on their shoulders ⁿwith the poles, ^oas Moses had commanded according to the word of the Lord.

16 David also commanded the chiefs of the Levites to appoint their brothers as the singers who should play loudly on ^pmusical instruments, on harps and lyres and cymbals, to raise sounds of joy. 17 So the Levites appointed ^qHeman the son of Joel; and of his brothers ^rAsaph the son of Berechiah; and of the sons of Merari, their brothers, ^sEthan the son of Kushaiah; 18 and with them their brothers of the second order, Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, and Mikneiah, and the gatekeepers Obed-edom and Jeiel. 19 The singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, were to sound bronze cymbals; 20 Zechariah, ^tAziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah were to play harps according to ^uAlamoth; 21 but Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, ^vObed-edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah were to lead with lyres according to ^wthe Sheminith. 22 Chenaniah, leader of the Levites in music, should direct the music, for he understood it. 23 Berechiah and Elkanah were to be gatekeepers for the ark. 24 Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer, the priests, should ^xblow the trumpets before the ark of God. ^vObed-edom and Jehiah were to be gatekeepers for the ark.

25 ^ySo David and the elders of Israel and the commanders of thousands went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord from the house of ^vObed-edom with rejoicing. 26 And because God helped the Levites who were carrying the ark of the covenant of the Lord, they sacrificed ^zseven bulls and seven rams. 27 David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, as also were all the Levites who were carrying the ark, and the singers and Chenaniah the leader of the music of the singers. And David wore a linen ephod. 28 So all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the Lord with shouting, to the sound of the horn, ^atrumpets, and cymbals, and made loud music on ^bharps and lyres.

29 And as the ark of the covenant of the Lord came to the city of David, Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David dancing and celebrating, and she despised him in her heart.

The Ark Placed in a Tent

16 And they brought in the ark of God and set it inside ^cthe tent that David had pitched for it, and 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 the Lord 3 and distributed to all Israel, both men and women, to each a loaf of bread, a portion of meat,¹ and a cake of raisins.

4 Then he appointed some of the Levites as ministers before the ark of the Lord, to invoke, to thank, and to praise the Lord, the God of Israel. 5 ^dAsaph was the chief, and second to him were Zechariah, Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-edom, and Jeiel, who were to play harps and lyres; Asaph was to sound the cymbals, 6 and Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests were to blow trumpets regularly before the ark of the covenant of God. 7 Then on that day ^eDavid first appointed that thanksgiving be sung to the Lord by Asaph and his brothers.

David’s Song of Thanks

35 ^cSay also:

^eThen all the people said, “Amen!” and praised the Lord.

Worship Before the Ark

37 So David left Asaph and his brothers there ^fbefore the ark of the covenant of the Lord to minister regularly before the ark ^gas each day required, 38 and also ^hObed-edom and his³ sixty-eight brothers, while ^hObed-edom, the son of Jeduthun, and ⁱHosah were to be gatekeepers. 39 And he left ^jZadok the priest and his brothers the priests before the tabernacle of the Lord ^kin the high place that was at Gibeon 40 to offer burnt offerings to the Lord ^lon the altar of burnt offering ^mregularly morning and evening, to do all that is written in the Law of the Lord that he commanded Israel. 41 With them were ⁿHeman and Jeduthun ^oand the rest of those chosen and ^pexpressly named to give thanks to the Lord, ^qfor his steadfast love endures forever. 42 Heman and Jeduthun had trumpets and cymbals for the music and instruments ^rfor sacred song. The sons of Jeduthun were appointed to the gate.

43 ^sThen all the people departed each to his house, and David went home to bless his household.