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asked God, “Should I go out to fight the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?”
The Lord replied, “Yes, go ahead. I will hand
them over to you.”
11 So David and his troops went up to Baalperazim and defeated the Philistines there.
“God did it!” David exclaimed. “He used me to
burst through my enemies like a raging flood!”
So they named that place Baal-perazim (which
means “the Lord who bursts through”). 12 The
Philistines had abandoned their gods there, so
David gave orders to burn them.
13 But after a while the Philistines returned
and raided the valley again. 14 And once again
David asked God what to do. “Do not attack
them straight on,” God replied. “Instead,
circle around behind and attack them near
the poplar* trees. 15 When you hear a sound
like marching feet in the tops of the poplar
trees, go out and attack! That will be the signal that God is moving ahead of you to strike
down the Philistine army.” 16 So David did
what God commanded, and they struck down
the Philistine army all the way from Gibeon
to Gezer.
17 So David’s fame spread everywhere, and
the Lord caused all the nations to fear David.
Preparing to Move the Ark
David now built several buildings for
himself in the City of David. He also prepared a place for the Ark of God and set up a
special tent for it. 2 Then he commanded, “No
one except the Levites may carry the Ark of God.
The Lord has chosen them to carry the Ark of
the Lord and to serve him forever.”
3 Then David summoned all Israel to Jerusalem to bring the Ark of the Lord to the place he
had prepared for it. 4 This is the number of the
descendants of Aaron (the priests) and the Levites who were called together:
15
5 From
the clan of Kohath, 120, with Uriel as
their leader.
6 From the clan of Merari, 220, with Asaiah as
their leader.
7 From the clan of Gershon,* 130, with Joel as
their leader.
8 From the descendants of Elizaphan, 200,
with Shemaiah as their leader.
9 From the descendants of Hebron, 80, with
Eliel as their leader.
10 From the descendants of Uzziel, 112, with
Amminadab as their leader.
14:14 Or aspen, or balsam; also in 14:15. The exact identification
of this tree is uncertain. 15:7 Hebrew Gershom, a variant
spelling of Gershon. 15:18 As in several Hebrew manuscripts
and Greek version (see also parallel lists in 15:20; 16:5);
Masoretic Text reads Zechariah ben Jaaziel. 15:20 Hebrew
adds according to Alamoth, which is probably a musical term.
The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain. 15:21 Hebrew adds
according to the Sheminith, which is probably a musical term.
The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain. 15:23 Hebrew
chosen as gatekeepers for; also in 15:24. 15:25 Hebrew the
commanders of thousands. 15:27 Hebrew a linen ephod.
1 CHR ONICL ES 15
11 Then David summoned the priests, Zadok
and Abiathar, and these Levite leaders: Uriel,
Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab. 12 He said to them, “You are the leaders of
the Levite families. You must purify yourselves
and all your fellow Levites, so you can bring the
Ark of the Lord, the God of Israel, to the place I
have prepared for it. 13 Because you Levites did
not carry the Ark the first time, the anger of the
Lord our God burst out against us. We failed
to ask God how to move it properly.” 14 So the
priests and the Levites purified themselves in
order to bring the Ark of the Lord, the God of Israel, to Jerusalem. 15 Then the Levites carried the
Ark of God on their shoulders with its carrying
poles, just as the Lord had instructed Moses.
16 David also ordered the Levite leaders to appoint a choir of Levites who were singers and
musicians to sing joyful songs to the accompaniment of harps, lyres, and cymbals. 17 So the Levites appointed Heman son of Joel along with
his fellow Levites: Asaph son of Berekiah, and
Ethan son of Kushaiah from the clan of Merari.
18 The following men were chosen as their assistants: Zechariah, Jaaziel,* Shemiramoth, Jehiel,
Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah,
Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, and the gatekeepers—
Obed-edom and Jeiel.
19 The musicians Heman, Asaph, and Ethan
were chosen to sound the bronze cymbals.
20 Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni,
Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah were chosen to
play the harps.* 21 Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah were
chosen to play the lyres.* 22 Kenaniah, the head
Levite, was chosen as the choir leader because
of his skill.
23 Berekiah and Elkanah were chosen to
guard* the Ark. 24 Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer—all of whom were priests—were chosen
to blow the trumpets as they marched in front
of the Ark of God. Obed-edom and Jehiah were
chosen to guard the Ark.
Moving the Ark to Jerusalem
25 Then David and the elders of Israel and the
generals of the army* went to the house of Obededom to bring the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant
up to Jerusalem with a great celebration. 26 And
because God was clearly helping the Levites as
they carried the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant,
they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams.
27 David was dressed in a robe of fine linen,
as were all the Levites who carried the Ark,
and also the singers, and Kenaniah the choir
leader. David was also wearing a priestly garment.* 28 So all Israel brought up the Ark of the
Lord’s Covenant with shouts of joy, the blowing of rams’ horns and trumpets, the crashing of
cymbals, and loud playing on harps and lyres.