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1 Chronicles 14-16
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
1 Chronicles 14-16
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
David Established at Jerusalem
14 King Hiram of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with cedar logs and masons and carpenters to build a house for him.(A) 2 David then perceived 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 David took more wives in Jerusalem, and David became the father of more sons and daughters. 4 These are the names of the children whom he had in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, and Nathan; Solomon,(B) 5 Ibhar, Elishua, and Elpelet; 6 Nogah, Nepheg, and Japhia; 7 Elishama, Beeliada, and Eliphelet.
Defeat of the Philistines
8 When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, all the Philistines went up in search of David, but David heard about it and went out against them.(C) 9 Now the Philistines had come and made a raid in the valley of Rephaim.(D) 10 David inquired of God, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you give them into my hand?” The Lord said to him, “Go up, and I will give them into your hand.” 11 So they went up to Baal-perazim, and David defeated them there. David said, “God has burst forth against my enemies by my hand, like a bursting flood.” Therefore that place is called Baal-perazim.[a] 12 They abandoned their gods there, and at David’s command they were burned.
13 Once again the Philistines made a raid in the valley.(E) 14 When David again inquired of God, God said to him, “You shall not go up after them; go around and come upon them opposite the balsam trees.(F) 15 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 David did as God had commanded him, and they struck down the Philistine army from Gibeon to Gezer.(G) 17 The fame of David went out into all lands, and the Lord brought the fear of him on all nations.(H)
The Ark Brought to Jerusalem
15 David[b] built houses for himself in the city of David, and he prepared a place for the ark of God and pitched a tent for it.(I) 2 Then David commanded that no one but the Levites were to carry the ark of God, for the Lord had chosen them to carry the ark of the Lord and to minister to him forever.(J) 3 David assembled all Israel in Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the Lord to its place, which he had prepared for it.(K) 4 Then David gathered together the descendants of Aaron and the Levites: 5 of the sons of Kohath, Uriel the chief, with one hundred twenty of his kindred; 6 of the sons of Merari, Asaiah the chief, with two hundred twenty of his kindred; 7 of the sons of Gershom, Joel the chief, with one hundred thirty of his kindred; 8 of the sons of Elizaphan, Shemaiah the chief, with two hundred of his kindred;(L) 9 of the sons of Hebron, Eliel the chief, with eighty of his kindred;(M) 10 of the sons of Uzziel, Amminadab the chief, with one hundred twelve of his kindred.
11 David summoned the priests Zadok and Abiathar and the Levites Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab.(N) 12 He said to them, “You are the heads of families of the Levites; sanctify yourselves, you and your kindred, so that you may bring up the ark of the Lord, the God of Israel, to the place that I have prepared for it.(O) 13 Because you did not carry it[c] the first time,[d] the Lord our God burst out against us because we did not give it proper care.”(P) 14 So the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of the Lord, the God of Israel.(Q) 15 And the Levites carried the ark of God on their shoulders with the poles, as Moses had commanded according to the word of the Lord.(R)
16 David also commanded the chiefs of the Levites to appoint their kindred as singers to raise loud sounds of joy on musical instruments, on harps and lyres and cymbals.(S) 17 So the Levites appointed Heman son of Joel; and of his kindred Asaph son of Berechiah; and of the sons of Merari, their kindred, Ethan son of Kushaiah;(T) 18 and with them their kindred 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, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah were to play harps according to Alamoth, 21 but Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah were to lead with lyres according to the Sheminith.[e] 22 Chenaniah, leader of the Levites in music, was to 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, were to blow the trumpets before the ark of God. Obed-edom and Jehiah also were to be gatekeepers for the ark.(U)
25 So David and the elders of Israel and the commanders of the thousands went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord from the house of Obed-edom with rejoicing.(V) 26 And because God helped the Levites who were carrying the ark of the covenant of the Lord, they sacrificed seven 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, trumpets, and cymbals, and made loud music on harps and lyres.(W)
29 As the ark of the covenant of the Lord came to the city of David, Michal daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David leaping and dancing, and she despised him in her heart.(X)
The Ark Placed in the Tent
16 They brought in the ark of God and set it inside the tent that David had pitched for it, and they offered burnt offerings and offerings of well-being before God.(Y) 2 When David had finished offering the burnt offerings and the offerings of well-being, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord, 3 and he distributed to every person in Israel—man and woman alike—to each a loaf of bread, a portion of meat,[f] and a cake of raisins.
4 He appointed certain 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 Asaph was the chief, and second to him was Zechariah, Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-edom, and Jeiel, with harps and lyres; Asaph was to sound the cymbals,(Z) 6 and the priests Benaiah and Jahaziel were to blow trumpets regularly before the ark of the covenant of God.
David’s Psalm of Thanksgiving
7 Then on that day David first appointed the singing of praises to the Lord by Asaph and his kindred.(AA)
8 O give thanks to the Lord, call on his name,
make known his deeds among the peoples.(AB)
9 Sing to him, sing praises to him;
tell of all his wonderful works.
10 Glory in his holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
11 Seek the Lord and his strength;
seek his presence continually.(AC)
12 Remember the wonderful works he has done,
his miracles and the judgments he uttered,(AD)
13 O offspring of his servant Israel,
children of Jacob, his chosen ones.
14 He is the Lord our God;
his judgments are in all the earth.(AE)
15 Remember his covenant forever,
the word that he commanded for a thousand generations,
16 the covenant that he made with Abraham,
his sworn promise to Isaac,(AF)
17 which he confirmed to Jacob as a statute,
to Israel as an everlasting covenant,(AG)
18 saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan
as your portion for an inheritance.”
19 When they were few in number,
of little account, and strangers in the land,[g](AH)
20 wandering from nation to nation,
from one kingdom to another people,
21 he allowed no one to oppress them;
he rebuked kings on their account,(AI)
22 saying, “Do not touch my anointed ones;
do my prophets no harm.”
23 Sing to the Lord, all the earth.
Tell of his salvation from day to day.(AJ)
24 Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous works among all the peoples.
25 For great is the Lord and greatly to be praised;
he is to be revered above all gods.(AK)
26 For all the gods of the peoples are idols,
but the Lord made the heavens.(AL)
27 Honor and majesty are before him;
strength and joy are in his place.
28 Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.(AM)
29 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
bring an offering and come before him.
Worship the Lord in holy splendor;
30 tremble before him, all the earth.
The world is firmly established; it shall never be moved.
31 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice,
and let them say among the nations, “The Lord is king!”(AN)
32 Let the sea roar and all that fills it;
let the field exult and everything in it.(AO)
33 Then shall the trees of the forest sing for joy
before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth.
34 O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever.(AP)
35 Say also,
“Save us, O God of our salvation,
and gather and rescue us from among the nations,
that we may give thanks to your holy name
and glory in your praise.(AQ)
36 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting.”
Then all the people said “Amen!” and praised the Lord.(AR)
Regular Worship Maintained
37 David[h] left Asaph and his kinsfolk there before the ark of the covenant of the Lord to minister regularly before the ark as each day required,(AS) 38 and also Obed-edom and his[i] sixty-eight kinsfolk, while Obed-edom son of Jeduthun and Hosah were to be gatekeepers.(AT) 39 And he left the priest Zadok and his kindred the priests before the tabernacle of the Lord in the high place that was at Gibeon,(AU) 40 to offer burnt offerings to the Lord on the altar of burnt offering regularly, morning and evening, according to all that is written in the law of the Lord that he commanded Israel.(AV) 41 With them were Heman and Jeduthun and the rest of those chosen and expressly named to render thanks to the Lord, for his steadfast love endures forever.(AW) 42 Heman and Jeduthun had with them trumpets and cymbals for the music and instruments for sacred song. The sons of Jeduthun were appointed to the gate.
43 Then all the people departed to their homes, and David went home to bless his household.
1 Chronicles 14-16
New International Version
1 Chronicles 14-16
New International Version
David’s House and Family(A)
14 Now Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with cedar logs,(B) stonemasons and carpenters to build a palace for him. 2 And David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel and that his kingdom had been highly exalted(C) for the sake of his people Israel.
3 In Jerusalem David took more wives and became the father of more sons(D) and daughters. 4 These are the names of the children born to him there:(E) Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, 5 Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet, 6 Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, 7 Elishama, Beeliada[a] and Eliphelet.
David Defeats the Philistines(F)
8 When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel,(G) they went up in full force to search for him, but David heard about it and went out to meet them. 9 Now the Philistines had come and raided the Valley(H) of Rephaim; 10 so David inquired of God: “Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will you deliver them into my hands?”
The Lord answered him, “Go, I will deliver them into your hands.”
11 So David and his men went up to Baal Perazim,(I) and there he defeated them. He said, “As waters break out, God has broken out against my enemies by my hand.” So that place was called Baal Perazim.[b] 12 The Philistines had abandoned their gods there, and David gave orders to burn(J) them in the fire.(K)
13 Once more the Philistines raided the valley;(L) 14 so David inquired of God again, and God answered him, “Do not go directly after them, but circle around them and attack them in front of the poplar trees. 15 As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the poplar trees, move out to battle, because that will mean God has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army.” 16 So David did as God commanded him, and they struck down the Philistine army, all the way from Gibeon(M) to Gezer.(N)
17 So David’s fame(O) spread throughout every land, and the Lord made all the nations fear(P) him.
The Ark Brought to Jerusalem(Q)
15 After David had constructed buildings for himself in the City of David, he prepared(R) a place for the ark of God and pitched(S) a tent for it. 2 Then David said, “No one but the Levites(T) may carry(U) the ark of God, because the Lord chose them to carry the ark of the Lord and to minister(V) before him forever.”
3 David assembled all Israel(W) in Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the Lord to the place he had prepared for it. 4 He called together the descendants of Aaron and the Levites:(X)
5 From the descendants of Kohath,
Uriel(Y) the leader and 120 relatives;
6 from the descendants of Merari,
Asaiah the leader and 220 relatives;
7 from the descendants of Gershon,[c]
Joel the leader and 130 relatives;
8 from the descendants of Elizaphan,(Z)
Shemaiah the leader and 200 relatives;
9 from the descendants of Hebron,(AA)
Eliel the leader and 80 relatives;
10 from the descendants of Uzziel,
Amminadab the leader and 112 relatives.
11 Then David summoned Zadok(AB) and Abiathar(AC) the priests, and Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel and Amminadab the Levites. 12 He said to them, “You are the heads of the Levitical families; you and your fellow Levites are to consecrate(AD) yourselves and bring up the ark of the Lord, the God of Israel, to the place I have prepared for it. 13 It was because you, the Levites,(AE) did not bring it up the first time that the Lord our God broke out in anger against us.(AF) We did not inquire of him about how to do it in the prescribed way.(AG)” 14 So the priests and Levites consecrated themselves in order to bring up the ark of the Lord, the God of Israel. 15 And the Levites carried the ark of God with the poles on their shoulders, as Moses had commanded(AH) in accordance with the word of the Lord.(AI)
16 David(AJ) told the leaders of the Levites(AK) to appoint their fellow Levites as musicians(AL) to make a joyful sound with musical instruments: lyres, harps and cymbals.(AM)
17 So the Levites appointed Heman(AN) son of Joel; from his relatives, Asaph(AO) son of Berekiah; and from their relatives the Merarites,(AP) Ethan son of Kushaiah; 18 and with them their relatives next in rank: Zechariah,[d] Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom(AQ) and Jeiel,[e] the gatekeepers.
19 The musicians Heman,(AR) Asaph and Ethan were to sound the bronze cymbals; 20 Zechariah, Jaaziel,[f] Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah and Benaiah were to play the lyres according to alamoth,[g] 21 and Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, Jeiel and Azaziah were to play the harps, directing according to sheminith.[h] 22 Kenaniah the head Levite was in charge of the singing; that was his responsibility because he was skillful at it.
23 Berekiah and Elkanah were to be doorkeepers for the ark. 24 Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah and Eliezer the priests were to blow trumpets(AS) before the ark of God. Obed-Edom and Jehiah were also to be doorkeepers for the ark.
25 So David and the elders of Israel and the commanders of units of a thousand went to bring up the ark(AT) of the covenant of the Lord from the house of Obed-Edom, with rejoicing. 26 Because God had helped the Levites who were carrying the ark of the covenant of the Lord, seven bulls and seven rams(AU) were sacrificed. 27 Now David was clothed in a robe of fine linen, as were all the Levites who were carrying the ark, and as were the musicians, and Kenaniah, who was in charge of the singing of the choirs. David also wore a linen ephod.(AV) 28 So all Israel(AW) brought up the ark of the covenant of the Lord with shouts,(AX) with the sounding of rams’ horns(AY) and trumpets, and of cymbals, and the playing of lyres and harps.
29 As the ark of the covenant of the Lord was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David dancing and celebrating, she despised him in her heart.
Ministering Before the Ark(AZ)(BA)(BB)
16 They brought the ark of God and set it inside the tent that David had pitched(BC) for it, and they presented burnt offerings and fellowship offerings before God. 2 After David had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, he blessed(BD) the people in the name of the Lord. 3 Then he gave a loaf of bread, a cake of dates and a cake of raisins(BE) to each Israelite man and woman.
4 He appointed some of the Levites to minister(BF) before the ark of the Lord, to extol,[i] thank, and praise the Lord, the God of Israel: 5 Asaph was the chief, and next to him in rank were Zechariah, then Jaaziel,[j] Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-Edom and Jeiel. They were to play the lyres and harps, Asaph was to sound the cymbals, 6 and Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests were to blow the trumpets regularly before the ark of the covenant of God.
7 That day David first appointed Asaph and his associates to give praise(BG) to the Lord in this manner:
8 Give praise(BH) to the Lord, proclaim his name;
make known among the nations(BI) what he has done.
9 Sing to him, sing praise(BJ) to him;
tell of all his wonderful acts.
10 Glory in his holy name;(BK)
let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
11 Look to the Lord and his strength;
seek(BL) his face always.
12 Remember(BM) the wonders(BN) he has done,
his miracles,(BO) and the judgments he pronounced,
13 you his servants, the descendants of Israel,
his chosen ones, the children of Jacob.
14 He is the Lord our God;
his judgments(BP) are in all the earth.
15 He remembers[k](BQ) his covenant forever,
the promise he made, for a thousand generations,
16 the covenant(BR) he made with Abraham,
the oath he swore to Isaac.
17 He confirmed it to Jacob(BS) as a decree,
to Israel as an everlasting covenant:
18 “To you I will give the land of Canaan(BT)
as the portion you will inherit.”
19 When they were but few in number,(BU)
few indeed, and strangers in it,
20 they[l] wandered(BV) from nation to nation,
from one kingdom to another.
21 He allowed no one to oppress them;
for their sake he rebuked kings:(BW)
22 “Do not touch my anointed ones;
do my prophets(BX) no harm.”
23 Sing to the Lord, all the earth;
proclaim his salvation day after day.
24 Declare his glory(BY) among the nations,
his marvelous deeds among all peoples.
25 For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;(BZ)
he is to be feared(CA) above all gods.(CB)
26 For all the gods of the nations are idols,
but the Lord made the heavens.(CC)
27 Splendor and majesty are before him;
strength and joy are in his dwelling place.
28 Ascribe to the Lord, all you families of nations,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.(CD)
29 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;(CE)
bring an offering and come before him.
Worship the Lord in the splendor of his[m] holiness.(CF)
30 Tremble(CG) before him, all the earth!
The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved.(CH)
31 Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;(CI)
let them say among the nations, “The Lord reigns!(CJ)”
32 Let the sea resound, and all that is in it;(CK)
let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them!
33 Let the trees(CL) of the forest sing,
let them sing for joy before the Lord,
for he comes to judge(CM) the earth.
34 Give thanks(CN) to the Lord, for he is good;(CO)
his love endures forever.(CP)
35 Cry out, “Save us, God our Savior;(CQ)
gather us and deliver us from the nations,
that we may give thanks to your holy name,
and glory in your praise.”
36 Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,(CR)
from everlasting to everlasting.
Then all the people said “Amen” and “Praise the Lord.”
37 David left Asaph and his associates before the ark of the covenant of the Lord to minister there regularly, according to each day’s requirements.(CS) 38 He also left Obed-Edom(CT) and his sixty-eight associates to minister with them. Obed-Edom son of Jeduthun, and also Hosah,(CU) were gatekeepers.
39 David left Zadok(CV) the priest and his fellow priests before the tabernacle of the Lord at the high place in Gibeon(CW) 40 to present burnt offerings to the Lord on the altar of burnt offering regularly, morning and evening, in accordance with everything written in the Law(CX) of the Lord, which he had given Israel. 41 With them were Heman(CY) and Jeduthun and the rest of those chosen and designated by name to give thanks to the Lord, “for his love endures forever.” 42 Heman and Jeduthun were responsible for the sounding of the trumpets and cymbals and for the playing of the other instruments for sacred song.(CZ) The sons of Jeduthun(DA) were stationed at the gate.
43 Then all the people left, each for their own home, and David returned home to bless his family.
Footnotes
- 1 Chronicles 14:7 A variant of Eliada
- 1 Chronicles 14:11 Baal Perazim means the lord who breaks out.
- 1 Chronicles 15:7 Hebrew Gershom, a variant of Gershon
- 1 Chronicles 15:18 Three Hebrew manuscripts and most Septuagint manuscripts (see also verse 20 and 16:5); most Hebrew manuscripts Zechariah son and or Zechariah, Ben and
- 1 Chronicles 15:18 Hebrew; Septuagint (see also verse 21) Jeiel and Azaziah
- 1 Chronicles 15:20 See verse 18; Hebrew Aziel, a variant of Jaaziel.
- 1 Chronicles 15:20 Probably a musical term
- 1 Chronicles 15:21 Probably a musical term
- 1 Chronicles 16:4 Or petition; or invoke
- 1 Chronicles 16:5 See 15:18,20; Hebrew Jeiel, possibly another name for Jaaziel.
- 1 Chronicles 16:15 Some Septuagint manuscripts (see also Psalm 105:8); Hebrew Remember
- 1 Chronicles 16:20 One Hebrew manuscript, Septuagint and Vulgate (see also Psalm 105:12); most Hebrew manuscripts inherit, / 19 though you are but few in number, / few indeed, and strangers in it.” / 20 They
- 1 Chronicles 16:29 Or Lord with the splendor of
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