Bible-Reading.comI Chronicles 15
1David made himself houses in David’s city; and he prepared a place for God’s ark, and pitched a tent for it.
2Then David said, “No one ought to carry God’s ark but the Levites. For the LORD has chosen them to carry God’s ark, and to minister to him forever.”
3David assembled all Israel at Jerusalem, to bring up the LORD’s ark to its place, which he had prepared for it.
4David gathered together the sons of Aaron and the Levites:
5of the sons of Kohath, Uriel the chief, and his brothers one hundred twenty;
6of the sons of Merari, Asaiah the chief, and his brothers two hundred twenty;
7of the sons of Gershom, Joel the chief, and his brothers one hundred thirty;
8of the sons of Elizaphan, Shemaiah the chief, and his brothers two hundred;
9of the sons of Hebron, Eliel the chief, and his brothers eighty;
10of the sons of Uzziel, Amminadab the chief, and his brothers one hundred twelve.
11David called for Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and for the Levites: for Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab,
12and said to them, “You are the heads of the fathers’ households of the Levites. Sanctify yourselves, both you and your brothers, that you may bring the ark of the LORD, the God of Israel, up to the place that I have prepared for it.
13For because you didn’t carry it at first, the LORD our God broke out in anger against us, because we didn’t seek him according to the ordinance.”
14So the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of the LORD, the God of Israel.
15The children of the Levites bore God’s ark on their shoulders with its poles, as Moses commanded according to the LORD’s word.
16David spoke to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brothers as singers with instruments of music, stringed instruments, harps, and cymbals, sounding aloud and lifting up their voices with joy.
17So the Levites appointed Heman the son of Joel; and of his brothers, Asaph the son of Berechiah; and of the sons of Merari their brothers, Ethan the son of Kushaiah;
18and with them their brothers of the second rank: Zechariah, Ben, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, and Jeiel, the doorkeepers.
19So the singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, were given cymbals of bronze to sound aloud;
20and Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah, with stringed instruments set to Alamoth;
21and Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah, with harps tuned to the eight-stringed lyre, to lead.
22Chenaniah, chief of the Levites, was over the singing. He taught the singers, because he was skillful.
23Berechiah and Elkanah were doorkeepers for the ark.
24Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer, the priests, blew the trumpets before God’s ark; and Obed-Edom and Jehiah were doorkeepers for the ark.
25So David, the elders of Israel, and the captains over thousands went to bring the ark of the LORD’s covenant up out of the house of Obed-Edom with joy.
26When God helped the Levites who bore the ark of the LORD’s covenant, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams.
27David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, as were all the Levites who bore the ark, the singers, and Chenaniah the choir master with the singers; and David had an ephod of linen on him.
28Thus all Israel brought the ark of the LORD’s covenant up with shouting, with sound of the cornet, with trumpets, and with cymbals, sounding aloud with stringed instruments and harps.
29As the ark of the LORD’s covenant came to David’s city, Michal the daughter of Saul looked out at the window, and saw king David dancing and playing; and she despised him in her heart.
I Chronicles 16
1They brought in God’s ark, and set it in the middle of the tent that David had pitched for it; and they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before God.
2When David had finished offering the burnt offering and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the LORD’s name.
3He gave to everyone of Israel, both man and woman, to everyone a loaf of bread, a portion of meat, and a cake of raisins.
4He appointed some of the Levites to minister before the LORD’s ark, and to commemorate, to thank, and to praise the LORD, the God of Israel:
5Asaph the chief, and second to him Zechariah, then Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-Edom, and Jeiel, with stringed instruments and with harps; and Asaph with cymbals, sounding aloud;
6with Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests with trumpets continually, before the ark of the covenant of God.
7Then on that day David first ordained giving of thanks to the LORD by the hand of Asaph and his brothers.
8Oh give thanks to the LORD. Call on his name. Make what he has done known among the peoples.
9Sing to him. Sing praises to him. Tell of all his marvelous works.
10Glory in his holy name. Let the heart of those who seek the LORD rejoice.
11Seek the LORD and his strength. Seek his face forever more.
12Remember his marvelous works that he has done, his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth,
13you offspring of Israel his servant, you children of Jacob, his chosen ones.
14He is the LORD our God. His judgments are in all the earth.
15Remember his covenant forever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations,
16the covenant which he made with Abraham, his oath to Isaac.
17He confirmed it to Jacob for a statute, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant,
18saying, “I will give you the land of Canaan, The lot of your inheritance,”
19when you were but a few men in number, yes, very few, and foreigners in it.
20They went about from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another people.
21He allowed no man to do them wrong. Yes, he reproved kings for their sakes,
22“Don’t touch my anointed ones! Do my prophets no harm!”
23Sing to the LORD, all the earth! Display his salvation from day to day.
24Declare his glory among the nations, and his marvelous works among all the peoples.
25For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised. He also is to be feared above all gods.
26For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the LORD made the heavens.
27Honor and majesty are before him. Strength and gladness are in his place.
28Ascribe to the LORD, you families of the peoples, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength!
29Ascribe to the LORD the glory due to his name. Bring an offering, and come before him. Worship the LORD in holy array.
30Tremble before him, all the earth. The world also is established that it can’t be moved.
31Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice! Let them say among the nations, “The LORD reigns!”
32Let the sea roar, and its fullness! Let the field exult, and all that is in it!
33Then the trees of the forest will sing for joy before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth.
34Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever.
35Say, “Save us, God of our salvation! Gather us together and deliver us from the nations, to give thanks to your holy name, to triumph in your praise.”
36Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting even to everlasting. All the people said, “Amen,” and praised the LORD.
37So he left Asaph and his brothers there before the ark of the LORD’s covenant, to minister before the ark continually, as every day’s work required;
38and Obed-Edom with their sixty-eight relatives; Obed-Edom also the son of Jeduthun and Hosah to be doorkeepers;
39and Zadok the priest and his brothers the priests, before the LORD’s tabernacle in the high place that was at Gibeon,
40to offer burnt offerings to the LORD on the altar of burnt offering continually morning and evening, even according to all that is written in the LORD’s law, which he commanded to Israel;
41and with them Heman and Jeduthun and the rest who were chosen, who were mentioned by name, to give thanks to the LORD, because his loving kindness endures forever;
42and with them Heman and Jeduthun with trumpets and cymbals for those that should sound aloud, and with instruments for the songs of God, and the sons of Jeduthun to be at the gate.
43All the people departed, each man to his house; and David returned to bless his house.
I Chronicles 17
1When David was living in his house, David said to Nathan the prophet, “Behold, I live in a cedar house, but the ark of the LORD’s covenant is in a tent.”
2Nathan said to David, “Do all that is in your heart; for God is with you.”
3That same night, the word of God came to Nathan, saying,
4“Go and tell David my servant, ‘The LORD says, “You shall not build me a house to dwell in;
5for I have not lived in a house since the day that I brought up Israel to this day, but have gone from tent to tent, and from one tent to another.
6In all places in which I have walked with all Israel, did I speak a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to be shepherd of my people, saying, ‘Why have you not built me a house of cedar?’”’
7“Now therefore, you shall tell my servant David, ‘The LORD of Armies says, “I took you from the sheep pen, from following the sheep, to be prince over my people Israel.
8I have been with you wherever you have gone, and have cut off all your enemies from before you. I will make you a name like the name of the great ones who are on the earth.
9I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in their own place, and be moved no more. The children of wickedness will not waste them any more, as at the first,
10and from the day that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel. I will subdue all your enemies. Moreover I tell you that the LORD will build you a house.
11It will happen, when your days are fulfilled that you must go to be with your fathers, that I will set up your offspring after you, who will be of your sons; and I will establish his kingdom.
12He will build me a house, and I will establish his throne forever.
13I will be his father, and he will be my son. I will not take my loving kindness away from him, as I took it from him who was before you;
14but I will settle him in my house and in my kingdom forever. His throne will be established forever.”’”
15According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so Nathan spoke to David.
16Then David the king went in and sat before the LORD; and he said, “Who am I, LORD God, and what is my house, that you have brought me this far?
17This was a small thing in your eyes, O God, but you have spoken of your servant’s house for a great while to come, and have respected me according to the standard of a man of high degree, LORD God.
18What can David say yet more to you concerning the honor which is done to your servant? For you know your servant.
19LORD, for your servant’s sake, and according to your own heart, you have done all this greatness, to make known all these great things.
20LORD, there is no one like you, neither is there any God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears.
21What one nation on the earth is like your people Israel, whom God went to redeem to himself for a people, to make you a name by great and awesome things, in driving out nations from before your people whom you redeemed out of Egypt?
22For you made your people Israel your own people forever; and you, LORD, became their God.
23Now, LORD, let the word that you have spoken concerning your servant, and concerning his house, be established forever, and do as you have spoken.
24Let your name be established and magnified forever, saying, ‘The LORD of Armies is the God of Israel, even a God to Israel. The house of David your servant is established before you.’
25For you, my God, have revealed to your servant that you will build him a house. Therefore your servant has found courage to pray before you.
26Now, LORD, you are God, and have promised this good thing to your servant.
27Now it has pleased you to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever before you; for you, LORD, have blessed, and it is blessed forever.”
I Chronicles 18
1After this, David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and took Gath and its towns out of the hand of the Philistines.
2He defeated Moab; and the Moabites became servants to David and brought tribute.
3David defeated Hadadezer king of Zobah, toward Hamath, as he went to establish his dominion by the river Euphrates.
4David took from him one thousand chariots, seven thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen; and David hamstrung all the chariot horses, but reserved of them enough for one hundred chariots.
5When the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David struck twenty-two thousand men of the Syrians.
6Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus; and the Syrians became servants to David and brought tribute. The LORD gave victory to David wherever he went.
7David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.
8From Tibhath and from Cun, cities of Hadadezer, David took very much bronze, with which Solomon made the bronze sea, the pillars, and the vessels of bronze.
9When Tou king of Hamath heard that David had struck all the army of Hadadezer king of Zobah,
10he sent Hadoram his son to King David to greet him and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer and struck him (for Hadadezer had wars with Tou); and he had with him all kinds of vessels of gold and silver and bronze.
11King David also dedicated these to the LORD, with the silver and the gold that he carried away from all the nations: from Edom, from Moab, from the children of Ammon, from the Philistines, and from Amalek.
12Moreover Abishai the son of Zeruiah struck eighteen thousand of the Edomites in the Valley of Salt.
13He put garrisons in Edom; and all the Edomites became servants to David. The LORD gave victory to David wherever he went.
14David reigned over all Israel; and he executed justice and righteousness for all his people.
15Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder;
16Zadok the son of Ahitub and Abimelech the son of Abiathar were priests; Shavsha was scribe;
17and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and the sons of David were chief officials serving the king.
I Chronicles 19
1After this, Nahash the king of the children of Ammon died, and his son reigned in his place.
2David said, “I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, because his father showed kindness to me.” So David sent messengers to comfort him concerning his father. David’s servants came into the land of the children of Ammon to Hanun to comfort him.
3But the princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanun, “Do you think that David honors your father, in that he has sent comforters to you? Haven’t his servants come to you to search, to overthrow, and to spy out the land?”
4So Hanun took David’s servants, shaved them, and cut off their garments in the middle at their buttocks, and sent them away.
5Then some people went and told David how the men were treated. He sent to meet them; for the men were greatly humiliated. The king said, “Stay at Jericho until your beards have grown, and then return.”
6When the children of Ammon saw that they had made themselves odious to David, Hanun and the children of Ammon sent one thousand talents of silver to hire chariots and horsemen out of Mesopotamia, out of Aram-maacah, and out of Zobah.
7So they hired for themselves thirty-two thousand chariots, and the king of Maacah with his people, who came and encamped near Medeba. The children of Ammon gathered themselves together from their cities, and came to battle.
8When David heard of it, he sent Joab with all the army of the mighty men.
9The children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the gate of the city; and the kings who had come were by themselves in the field.
10Now when Joab saw that the battle was set against him before and behind, he chose some of all the choice men of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians.
11The rest of the people he committed into the hand of Abishai his brother; and they put themselves in array against the children of Ammon.
12He said, “If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you are to help me; but if the children of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will help you.
13Be courageous, and let’s be strong for our people and for the cities of our God. May the LORD do that which seems good to him.”
14So Joab and the people who were with him came near to the front of the Syrians to the battle; and they fled before him.
15When the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians had fled, they likewise fled before Abishai his brother, and entered into the city. Then Joab came to Jerusalem.
16When the Syrians saw that they were defeated by Israel, they sent messengers and called out the Syrians who were beyond the River, with Shophach the captain of the army of Hadadezer leading them.
17David was told that, so he gathered all Israel together, passed over the Jordan, came to them, and set the battle in array against them. So when David had put the battle in array against the Syrians, they fought with him.
18The Syrians fled before Israel; and David killed of the Syrian men seven thousand charioteers and forty thousand footmen, and also killed Shophach the captain of the army.
19When the servants of Hadadezer saw that they were defeated by Israel, they made peace with David and served him. The Syrians would not help the children of Ammon any more.