1 Chronicles 13 – 14

The Attempt to Bring the Ark to Jerusalem

1 Chronicles 13

¹ David consulted with the commanders of the thousands and of the hundreds, with every leader. ² David said to the whole assembly of Israel, “If it seems good to you and receives approval from the Lord our God, we should send word everywhere to our brothers who remain in the whole land of Israel and get together with them. We will also send word to the priests and to the Levites in their cities with their pasturelands that they should assemble with us. ³ We will bring the Ark of our God back to us, because we did not seek it during the days of Saul.” ⁴ The whole assembly agreed to do it because it was the right thing to do in the view of all the people. ⁵ David gathered all Israel from the Shihor River in Egypt to the entrance of Hamath, ^[1] to bring the Ark of God from Kiriath Jearim.

⁶ David and all Israel went up to Baalah in Judah (that is, Kiriath Jearim) to bring up the ark from there, the Ark of God the Lord, who is seated above the cherubim and who is called by the Name. ^{[2] 7} They transported God’s ark on a new cart from the house of Abinadab. Uzzah and Ahio ^[3] were leading the cart. ⁸ David and all Israel were celebrating enthusiastically before God with songs, lyres, harps, hand drums, cymbals, and trumpets.

⁹ When they came to the threshing floor of Kidon, ^[4] Uzzah reached out to grab the ark because the oxen stumbled. ¹⁰ The anger of the Lord burned against Uzzah, and the Lord struck him down because Uzzah reached out his hand to the ark. He died there in the presence of God. ¹¹ David was angry because the Lord had burst out against Uzzah. That place is called Perez Uzzah ^[5] to this day. ¹² David was afraid of God on that day. He said, “How can I bring the Ark of God to me?”

¹³ David did not take the ark along with him into the City of David. He set it aside in the house of Obed Edom the Gittite. ¹⁴ The Ark of God stayed in the house of Obed Edom for three months, and the Lord blessed the house of Obed Edom and all that belonged to him.

Events of David’s Reign

1 Chronicles 14

¹ Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with cedar logs, stonemasons, and carpenters to build a palace for him. ² David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel because his kingdom had been lifted high for the sake of his people Israel.

³ David took wives in Jerusalem and fathered sons and daughters. ⁴ These are the names of the children born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, ⁵ Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet, ⁶ Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, ⁷ Elishama, Be’eliada, and Eliphelet.

David Defeats the Philistines

⁸ The Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel. So all the Philistines went up to search for David. David heard about it and went out to face them. ⁹ The Philistines came and made a raid in the Valley of Rephaim. ¹⁰ David asked 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 the Philistines there. David said, “By my hand God has broken through my enemies like a wall of water.” That is why they named that place Baal Perazim. ^{[6] 12} The Philistines abandoned their gods there. David gave the order, and they were burned with fire.

¹³ The Philistines made another raid in the valley. ¹⁴ David again consulted God. God said to him, “Do not go directly at them. Go around them and come to them in the area of the balsam trees. ^{[7] 15} When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, you are to go out in battle, because God has gone out before you to strike the army of the Philistines.” ¹⁶ David did what God had commanded him, and they struck the army of the Philistines from Gibeon to Gezer.

¹⁷ David’s reputation spread into all the lands. The Lord caused all the nations to be terrified.