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1 Chronicles 14-17
International Standard Version

David Settles in Jerusalem(A)

14 After this, King Hiram of Tyre sent a delegation to David, accompanied by cedar[a] logs, stone masons, and wood workers, to construct a palace for him. 2 David realized that the Lord was affirming him as king over Israel, and that his government was being exalted in order to benefit his people Israel. 3 But while he was living in Jerusalem, David married more wives and fathered more sons and daughters. 4 Here’s a list of the children whom he fathered while in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, 5 Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet, 6 Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, 7 Elishama, Beeliada, and Eliphelet.

David Defeats the Philistines(B)

8 When the Philistines learned that David had been anointed king over all of Israel, all of the Philistines invaded to look for David. David heard about it and went out to fight them. 9 Meanwhile, the Philistines had invaded and raided the Rephaim Valley. 10 So David asked God, “Am I to go out against the Philistines? Will you give me victory over them?”[b]

“Go out,” the Lord replied to him, “and I’ll put them right into your hand.”

11 So David[c] went out to Baal-perazim and defeated the Philistines[d] there. David observed, “Like an overwhelming flood, God has overwhelmed[e] my enemies, using me to do it.”[f] That’s why that place is called Baal-perazim.[g] 12 The Philistines[h] abandoned their gods there, so David ordered that their idols be incinerated.

13 Later the Philistines invaded the Rephaim[i] Valley again. 14 When David asked God about it, God told him, “Don’t directly attack them. Instead, go around them and come up against them opposite those balsam trees. 15 When you hear the sound of marching coming from the tops of the balsam trees, then go out to battle, because God will have gone out ahead of you to destroy the Philistine army.” 16 So David did just as God had ordered, and they struck down the Philistine army from Gibeon to Gezer. 17 Then David’s reputation spread through all of the neighboring countries,[j] and the Lord caused all nations[k] to be afraid of David.

A Place for the Ark is Prepared(C)

15 David built palaces for himself in the City of David, and he prepared a place for the Ark of God and erected a tent for it. 2 Then David ordered that the Ark of God was to be carried by no one except the descendants of Levi, because the Lord had chosen them to carry the ark of the Lord and to serve him forever. 3 David assembled all of Israel in Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the Lord to its proper place that he had prepared for it.

Ministry Appointments

4 David also assembled the descendants of Aaron, who were descendants of Levi, 5 including[l] Uriel their leader from the descendants of Kohath, along with 120 of his relatives, 6 from the descendants of Merari, Asaiah their leader, along with 220 of his relatives, 7 from the descendants of Gershom, Joel their chief, along with 130 of his relatives, 8 from the descendants of Elizaphan, Shemaiah their leader, along with 200 of his relatives, 9 from Hebron’s descendants, Eliel their leader, along with 80 of his relatives, 10 and from Uzziel’s descendants, Amminadab their leader, along with 112 of his relatives.

11 Then David summoned the priests Zadok and Abiathar, along with the descendants of Levi Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab 12 and addressed them: “As leaders of your Levitical families, set yourselves apart, both you and your relatives, so you can be qualified to[m] bring up the ark of the Lord God of Israel to the place I’ve prepared for it. 13 Because you didn’t carry it from the very first, the Lord our God attacked[n] us, since we didn’t care for it appropriately.” 14 So the priests and descendants of Levi set themselves apart to carry the ark of the Lord God of Israel. 15 The descendants of Levi carried the Ark of God the way Moses had commanded and in accordance with the command from[o] the Lord—that is, with poles[p] on their shoulders.

Music Ministry Appointments

16 David also told the leaders of the descendants of Levi to appoint their relatives as singers, to play musical instruments such as harps, lyres, and cymbals, and to keep sounding aloud with joyful voices. 17 So the descendants of Levi appointed Joel’s son Heman, his relative Berechiah’s son Asaph, as well as certain[q] relatives of Merari’s sons, including[r] Kushaiah’s son Ethan, 18 their second order relatives[s] Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, and Mikneiah, as well as the trustees[t] Obed-edom and Jeiel. 19 The singers included Heman, Asaph, and Ethan (who played bronze cymbals). 20 Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah played harps to accompany the women singers,[u] 21 and Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah led on lyres, sounding the octaves.[v] 22 Chenaniah, music leader for the descendants of Levi, served as music director, because he was expert at it. 23 Berechiah and Elkanah served as gatekeepers for the ark. 24 Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer the priests were appointed to sound the trumpets before the Ark of God, and Obed-edom and Jehiah were trustees[w] for the ark.

The Ark is Moved to Jerusalem

25 Then David, the elders of Israel, and the leaders of groups of thousands[x] proceeded to bring the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord from Obed-edom’s house, rejoicing as they went.[y] 26 As God helped the descendants of Levi who were carrying the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams. 27 David wore a robe made from fine linen, as did all of the descendants of Levi who were carrying the ark, the singers, and Chenaniah the music and choir director. David also wore a linen ephod. 28 All of Israel were bringing up the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord, accompanied by shouting, sounding of horns, trumpets, and cymbals, along with loud music on harps and lyres. 29 But as the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord approached the City of David, Saul’s daughter Michal was peering out a window, watching King David dancing and cavorting around, and she despised him in her heart.

The Ark is Placed in the Tent(D)

16 They brought the Ark of God, placed it within the tent that David had erected, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings in the presence of God. 2 After David had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord 3 and distributed a loaf of bread, a date bar, and a raisin bar to every person in Israel—that is, to each man and to each woman. 4 In the presence of the ark of the Lord, he appointed some of the descendants of Levi to minister continually by remembering,[z] giving thanks, and praising the Lord God of Israel. 5 Their director Asaph played cymbals, and next to him was Zechariah, followed by Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-edom, and Jeiel, who played harps and lyres. 6 The priests Benaiah and Jahaziel played the trumpets continually in the presence of the Ark of the Covenant of God.

David’s Psalm of Thanksgiving(E)

7 On that very day, David composed this psalm of thanksgiving to the Lord just for[aa] Asaph and his companions:[ab]

8 Give thanks to the Lord,
    calling on his name.
        Make what he has done known among the people.
9 Sing to him,
    sing psalms to him,
        and think[ac] about all of his miraculous deeds.
10 Find joy in his holy name;
    let the hearts of those who keep on seeking the Lord rejoice.
11 Seek the Lord and his strength.
    Always look to him.[ad]
12 Keep remembering the awesome deeds that he has done,
    along with his miracles
        and the rulings that he has handed down,
13 you descendants of his servant Israel,
    you descendants of Jacob,
        the ones he has chosen.

14 He is the Lord our God.
    His justice is in all of the land.
15 Remember his covenant forever,
    his promise that he made to the thousandth generation,
16 the covenant[ae] that he made with Abraham,
    and the oath he swore to Isaac.
17 He confirmed it to Jacob in the form of an ordinance,
    an eternal covenant to Israel,
18 when he told Israel,
    “To you I will give the land of Canaan
        as your joyful inheritance.”[af]

19 When you were few in number—
    very few, and strangers at that—
20 wandering from nation to nation,
    from one kingdom to another,
21 he did not let anyone wrong them.
    He warned kings on their behalf,
22 “Don’t touch my chosen ones,
    and don’t hurt my prophets!”

23 Let all the earth sing to the Lord!
    Day after day proclaim his deliverance![ag]
24 Declare his glory among the nations,
    and his miraculous deeds to all people,
25 because the Lord is great,
    and he is praised greatly!
        He is feared above every god.
26 For all of the gods of the other[ah] nations are mere[ai] idols,
    but the Lord fashioned the heavens!
27 Splendor and majesty surround him,
    and strength and joy fill his palace.[aj]

28 Let the families of earth recognize the Lord—
    that he is glorious and powerful.
29 Recognize the glory that is due the Lord!
    Bring your offering,
and come into his presence,
    worshiping the Lord in all of his holy splendor.
30 Tremble in his presence, all the earth!
    Surely the inhabited world[ak] stands firm—
        it cannot be moved.

31 Let the heavens rejoice,
    and the earth be glad!
Say to the nations,
    “The Lord reigns!”
32 Let the sea roar
    along with everything that fills it!
Let the fields exult,
    along with everything in them!
33 Then let the trees in the forest sing out in praise,
    for the Lord is coming to judge the world.

34 Give thanks to the Lord,
    because he is good
        and because his gracious love is eternal!
35 Call out,[al] “Save us, God, you who delivers us!
    Gather us and rescue us from the nations!”
We will thank your holy name
    and rejoice as we praise you!
36 Praise the Lord God of Israel,
    who lives from eternity to eternity!

Then all of the people shouted “Amen!” and praised the Lord.

David Establishes Regular Worship

37 Later David[am] left the presence of the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord so Asaph and his fellow descendants of Levi could serve the ark there continually each day, doing whatever was required. 38 Obed-edom and 68 of his relatives remained also, with Jeduthun’s son Obed-edom and Hosah serving as trustees.[an] 39 He left Zadok the priest and his relatives at the Tent of the Lord at the high place in Gibeon, where they ministered in the Lord’s presence, 40 sacrificing the regular burnt offerings regularly each morning and evening to the Lord on the altar dedicated to that purpose, doing everything written in the Law of the Lord, just as he had commanded Israel.

41 David[ao] also appointed Heman, Jeduthun, and others chosen by name to give thanks to the Lord, because “his gracious love is eternal.”[ap] 42 They accompanied their songs of praise to God with trumpets, cymbals, and other musical instruments while Jeduthun’s children served as trustees.[aq] 43 After this, everyone left for their own homes and David went home to bless his own household.

God Establishes His Covenant with David(F)

17 After David had settled down to live in his palace, he[ar] spoke with the prophet Nathan. “Look, here I am living in this[as] cedar palace, but the ark of the Lord’s covenant remains surrounded by curtains!”

2 “Do everything you have in mind,”[at] Nathan replied to David, “because God is with you.”

3 But later that same night, this message came to Nathan from God:

4 “Go tell David, my servant, ‘This is what the Lord says:

“‘“You won’t be building a house[au] for me to inhabit, will you? 5 After all, I haven’t lived in a house from the day I brought out Israel until today. Instead, I’ve lived from tent to tent and from one place to another.[av] 6 Wherever I’ve moved within all of Israel, did I ever ask even one judge of Israel whom I commanded to shepherd my people, ‘Why haven’t you built me a cedar house?’”’

7 “Now therefore this is what you are to tell my servant David:

‘This is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies says: “I took you from the pasture myself—from tending sheep—to become Commander-in-Chief[aw] over my people Israel.

8 “‘“Furthermore, I have remained with you everywhere you have gone, annihilating all your enemies right in front of you. I will make your reputation[ax] great, like the reputation[ay] of the great ones who have lived on[az] earth. 9 I will establish a homeland[ba] for my people Israel, planting them in a secure location where they will never be disturbed anymore. Wicked people[bb] will not oppress them as happened in the past, 10 during the time I had commanded judges to administer[bc] my people Israel. I’ll also grant you deliverance from all your enemies.

“‘“I’m also announcing to you that the Lord also will himself build a house[bd] for you. 11 It will come about that when your life[be] is complete and you go to join your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring[bf] after you, who is related to one of[bg] your sons, and I will fortify his kingdom. 12 He will build a temple dedicated to me, and I will make his throne last forever. 13 I will be a father to him and he will be a son to me. I will never remove my gracious love from him as I did from the one who preceded you. 14 I will confirm him in my Temple and in my kingdom forever, and his throne will remain secure forever.”’”

15 Using precisely these words, Nathan communicated this complete oracle to David.

David’s Prayer(G)

16 Then King David went in, sat down in the presence of the Lord, and said:

“Who am I, Lord God, and what is my household,[bh] since you have brought me to this? 17 Furthermore, this is a small thing to you, God, and yet you have spoken concerning your servant’s household for a great while to come, and you have seen in me the fulfillment[bi] of man’s purpose, Lord God.

18 “What more can David say to you about how you are honoring your servant, and you surely know your servant. 19 Lord, for the sake of your servant, and consistent with your heart, you have done all of these great things and are now making these[bj] great things known.

20 “Lord, there is no one like you, and we have heard from no god other than you. 21 What other one nation on the earth is like your people Israel, God, which you have redeemed from slavery to become your own people, making a great name for yourself when you redeemed your people from Egypt. You did awesome miraculous deeds, driving out nations that stood in their way. 22 You took[bk] your people Israel to be your very own people forever, and you, Lord, have become their God.

23 “And now, Lord, let what you have spoken concerning your servant and his household be done forever—and let it be done just as you’ve promised. 24 May your name be made great and honored forever: The Lord of the Heavenly Armies, the God of Israel, is God for Israel, and may the family of David your servant stand before you forever.

25 “Because of you, my God, I have been bold to pray to you, as you have told your servant that you will build him a dynasty. 26 And now, Lord, you are God, and you have promised all of these good things to your servant. 27 Furthermore, it has pleased you to bless the dynasty of your servant, so that it will continue in place forever in your presence, because when you, Lord, grant a blessing, it is an eternal blessing.”

Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 14:1 I.e. a genus of coniferous evergreen in the family Pinaceae; and so throughout the book
  2. 1 Chronicles 14:10 Lit. give them into my hand
  3. 1 Chronicles 14:11 Lit. he
  4. 1 Chronicles 14:11 Lit. defeated them
  5. 1 Chronicles 14:11 Or has burst out against
  6. 1 Chronicles 14:11 Lit. using my own hand
  7. 1 Chronicles 14:11 The Heb. name Baal-perazim means Lord of Overwhelming
  8. 1 Chronicles 14:12 Lit. They
  9. 1 Chronicles 14:13 The Heb. lacks Rephaim
  10. 1 Chronicles 14:17 Lit. the lands
  11. 1 Chronicles 14:17 Or gentiles
  12. 1 Chronicles 15:5 The Heb. lacks including
  13. 1 Chronicles 15:12 The Heb. lacks be qualified to
  14. 1 Chronicles 15:13 Lit. overwhelmed
  15. 1 Chronicles 15:15 Lit. the word of
  16. 1 Chronicles 15:15 Lit. yolk bars
  17. 1 Chronicles 15:17 The Heb. lacks certain
  18. 1 Chronicles 15:17 The Heb. lacks including
  19. 1 Chronicles 15:18 Lit. their second relatives; i.e. a supplementary ministry team
  20. 1 Chronicles 15:18 Or gatekeepers
  21. 1 Chronicles 15:20 Lit. harps according to Alamoth; i.e. harps according to young women
  22. 1 Chronicles 15:21 Lit. lyres according to Sheminith to lead
  23. 1 Chronicles 15:24 Or gatekeepers
  24. 1 Chronicles 15:25 Lit. the Elefim, a community leader representing 1,000 Israelis
  25. 1 Chronicles 15:25 The Heb. lacks as they went
  26. 1 Chronicles 16:4 Lit. invoking; i.e. to speak to God in light of his past works
  27. 1 Chronicles 16:7 Lit. Lord in the hand of
  28. 1 Chronicles 16:7 Lit. brothers; i.e. his fellow descendants of Levi
  29. 1 Chronicles 16:9 Or and talk
  30. 1 Chronicles 16:11 Lit. to his face
  31. 1 Chronicles 16:16 The Heb. lacks the covenant
  32. 1 Chronicles 16:18 Or your special portion
  33. 1 Chronicles 16:23 Or day preach his salvation
  34. 1 Chronicles 16:26 The Heb. lacks other
  35. 1 Chronicles 16:26 The Heb. lacks mere
  36. 1 Chronicles 16:27 Lit. place
  37. 1 Chronicles 16:30 Or the inhabitants of the world
  38. 1 Chronicles 16:35 Lit. Say
  39. 1 Chronicles 16:37 Lit. he
  40. 1 Chronicles 16:38 Or gatekeepers
  41. 1 Chronicles 16:41 Lit. He
  42. 1 Chronicles 16:41 Cf. v.34
  43. 1 Chronicles 16:42 Or gatekeepers
  44. 1 Chronicles 17:1 Lit. David
  45. 1 Chronicles 17:1 Lit. the
  46. 1 Chronicles 17:2 Lit. heart
  47. 1 Chronicles 17:4 Lit. house; and so throughout the chapter
  48. 1 Chronicles 17:5 The Heb. lacks to another
  49. 1 Chronicles 17:7 Lit. Nagid; i.e. a senior officer entrusted with dual roles of operational oversight and management authority
  50. 1 Chronicles 17:8 Lit. name
  51. 1 Chronicles 17:8 Lit. name
  52. 1 Chronicles 17:8 The Heb. lacks have lived
  53. 1 Chronicles 17:9 Lit. place
  54. 1 Chronicles 17:9 Lit. Children of wickedness
  55. 1 Chronicles 17:10 Lit. judges over
  56. 1 Chronicles 17:10 I.e. a dynasty
  57. 1 Chronicles 17:11 Lit. days
  58. 1 Chronicles 17:11 Lit. seed; MT is sing.
  59. 1 Chronicles 17:11 Or is from
  60. 1 Chronicles 17:16 Lit. house, and so throughout the chapter
  61. 1 Chronicles 17:17 Lit. turning
  62. 1 Chronicles 17:19 The Heb. lacks these
  63. 1 Chronicles 17:22 Lit. gave
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