2 the whole congregation of Israel, If it seemeth good and be countenanced by the Lord our God, let us send to the rest of our brethren who are left in all the land of Israel, and with them let the priests, the Levites in the cities of their possession be 3 assembled with us; and let us bring the ark of our God to us. 4 For they had not sought it from the days of Saul. Thereupon the whole congregation gave orders to do so; for the proposal 5 was right in the eyes of all the people. Accordingly, David assembled all Israel from the border of Egypt to the bay of Emath, to bring the ark of God from the city Iarim, and David brought it up. 6 Now when all Israel came to the city Iarim which belonged to Juda, to bring up thence the ark of God the Lord, enthroned on cherubim whose name was invoked, they put the 7 ark of God on a new cart. And from the house of Aminadab, 8 Oza and his brothers guided the cart, while David and all Israel were playing with all their might before God, on psalteries and kinyras and nablas and tympanums and cymbals and 9 trumpets. But when they came to the threshing floor, Oza stretched forth his hand to take hold of the ark, because the 10 bullock caused it to lean: whereupon the anger of the Lord was kindled against Oza, and he smote him there, because he stretched forth his hand upon the ark, and he died there be11 fore God. And David was disheartened because the Lord had made a breach on Oza, and called that place, Breach of Oza, 12 which is still its name. And David was that day afraid of God 13 and said, How can I bring the ark of God home to me? So Da vid did not bring the ark of God home to himself, to the city of David, but caused it to turn aside to the house of Abeddara, 14 the Gethite. And the ark of God abode in the house of Abeddara three months, and God blessed Abeddara and all that belonged to him. XIV. When Chiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, with cedar timber, and masons and carpenters to build him a 2 house, and David knew that the Lord had prepared him to be king over Israel; for his kingdom was highly exalted for the 3 sake of his people Israel, David took still more wives in Je rusalem, and more sons and daughters were born to him. 4 Now these are the names of those who were born to him in 8 Jerusalem, Samaa, Sobab, Nathan and Solomon, and Baar and Elisa, and Eliphaleth and Nageth, and Naphath and Japhie, and Elisamae and Eliade, and Eliphala. When the Philistines heard that David was anointed king over all Israel, they all came up to seek David. And when 9 David heard it he went out to meet them. Now the Philistines 10 had come and spread themselves in the giant's vale. And David inquired of God, saying, If I go up against the Philistines, wilt thou deliver them into my hands? And the Lord said to him, Go up and I will deliver them into thy hands. 11 So he went up to Baal Pharasin. And when he had smitten them there David said, God broke through my enemies by my hand, like the breaking out of water, therefore he called 12 the name of that place, Breach of Pharasin. And the Philistines having left their gods there, David ordered them to be burned. 13 Again the Philistines came up and spread themselves again 14 in the giant's vale. And when David again inquired of God, God said to him, Thou shalt not go up after them. Turn from 15 them and come upon them near the pear trees. And when thou shalt hear a sound of rustling in the tops of the pear trees, then thou shalt come to battle, for God is gone out be16 fore thee to smite the camp of the Philistines. Accordingly he did as the Lord commanded him, and he smote the camp of 17 the Philistines from Gabaon to Gazera. And the fame of David spread through all the land, and the Lord brought the dread of him on all the nations. XV. When David had built houses for himself in the city of David, and prepared the place for the ark of God, and made for it a tabernacle: then David said, None but the Levites ought to carry the ark of God; for the Lord hath chosen them to carry the ark of the Lord and to minister to him forever. 3 So when David assembled all Israel at Jerusalem, to bring the ark of the Lord to the place which he had prepared for it, he 4 assembled the sons of Aaron, the Levites; of the Kaathites, 5 Uriel the chief and his brethren, a hundred and twenty; of the 6 Merarites, Asaia the chief and his brethren, two hundred and 7 twenty; of the Gersonites, Joel the chief and his brethren, a 8 hundred and thirty; of the sons of Elisaphat, Semei the chief 9 and his brethren, two hundred; of the sons of Chebron, Eliel 10 the chief and his brethren, eighty; of the sons of Oziel, Amina11 dab the chief and his brethren, a hundred and twelve. And David sent for Sadok and Abiathar the priests, and for the Levites, Uriel, Asaia and Joel, and Semaia and Eliel, and 12 Aminadab, and said to them, You chiefs of the families of the Levites, purify yourselves, both you and your brethren, that you may carry up the ark of the God of Israel to the place 13 which I have prepared for it; for because you did not do this on the former occasion, our God made a breach among us, be14 cause we did not seek him with judgment. So when the priests and the Levites had purified themselves to carry the ark of the God of Israel, the Levites took up the ark of God, as 15 Moses had by the word of the Lord ordered in writing, with 16 the staves on their shoulders. Now David had said to the chiefs of the Levites, Appoint your brethren, such as play on musical instruments, on nablas and kinyras, and cymbals, that they 17 may make a loud sound with the voice of joy. And the Levites had appointed Aiman son of Joel and of his brethren, Asaph son of Barachia, and of the sons of Merari his brethren, Aithan 18 the son of Kisias and with them their brethren of the second rank, Zacharias and Oziel, and Semiramoth and Jeiel, and Elioel and Eliab, and Banaia and Maasaia, and Matthathia and Eliphena, and Makellia and Abdedom, and Jeiel and 19 Ozias, the keepers of the gates; and the musicians Aiman, Asaph and Aithan, sung and played on brass cymbals in the 20 highest key; and Zacharias and Oziel, Semiramoth, Jeiel; Oni, 21 Eliab, Maasias, Banias, on nablas in alaimoth; and Mattathias and Eliphalu, and Makenia and Abdedom, and Jeiel and Ozias, 22 on kinyras in Amasenith to give a strong sound. And Chono. nias, a chief of the Levites, was master of the odes, for he was 23 skilled therein. And Barachia and Elkana were door keepers 24 of the ark. And Somnia and Josaphat, and Nathaniel and Amasai, and Zacharia and Banaia, and Eliezer the priests, sounded the trumpets before the ark of God. And Abdedom 25 and Jeia were door keepers of the ark of God. And David with the elders of Israel and the captains of thousands, marched before when they were bringing up the ark of the covenant 26 from the house of Abdedom with joy. And because God strengthened the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord, therefore they sacrificed each seven bulls and 27 seven rams. Now David was girded in a cotton stole, as were all the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and the musicians and Chonenias the chief of the singers. 28 And when David in his cotton stole, and all Israel were bring ing up the ark of the covenant of the Lord with shouting and 29 the sound of clarions and trumpets, answered by nablas and kinyras, it happened that when the ark of the covenant of the Lord came to the city of David, Melchol the daughter of Saul looking out at a window saw king David dancing and playing, and she despised him in her heart. XVI. And when they had brought in the ark of God and set it in the midst of the tabernacle, which David had erected for it, they offered whole burnt offerings and offerings of thanks. 2 giving before God. And when David had finished offer ing the whole burnt offerings and the offerings of thanksgiving, 3 he blessed the people in the name of the Lord, and distributed to all Israel both men and women, to every one a loaf of ba4 ker's bread, and a cake made with honey. Then he appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and in responsive strains to thank and praise the 5 Lord the God of Israel. Asaph was the leader, and to him responded Zacharias, Jeiel, Semiramoth and Jeiel, Matthathias, Eliab and Banaias, Abdedom and Jeiel, with musical instruments, nablas and kinyras; but Asaph used the cymbal; and 6. Banaias and Oziel the priests, with trumpets, were to be con7 tinually before the ark of the covenant of God. On that day David gave orders for beginning the praises of the Lord by the ministry of Asaph and his brethren, with this Ode: . 8 O give thanks to the Lord, Invoke him by his name ; Among peoples make known his designs. Sing to him. Sing praises to him. Proclaim to all the wonders which the Lord hath done. 9 10 Sing praises to his holy name. Let the heart which seeketh his favour be glad. 12 13 Remember the wonders which he hath done- 16 His word which he enjoined for a thousand generations. And the oath which he sware to Isaak, 17 This he confirmed for a law to Jacob To Israel as an everlasting covenant, Saying, To thee I will give the land of Chanaan, When they were very few in number; When they were passing from nation to nation- Sing to the Lord, all ye of this land, That the Lord is great and greatly to be praised; That all the gods of the nations are idols Glory and honour are before him- Ascribe to the Lord, ye families of nations, Let the earth be renovated and not dismayed. 1 |