| << 2 Sam 5 | |
| << 1 Chron 12 | |
| This is the New King James text of the passages. |
II Samuel 5:11-6:23; 1 Chronicles 13-16 Listen 
Notice that some of the events in I Chronicles and II Samuel are recorded in a different order in these chapters.
King David - more wives; more kids (II Samuel 5:11-16; I Chronicles 14:1-7)
II Samuel 5 |
I Chronicles 14 |
| 11 ¶ Then Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters and masons. And they built David a house. 12 So David knew that the LORD had established him as king over Israel, and that He had exalted His kingdom for the sake of His people Israel. 13 ¶ And David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, after he had come from Hebron. Also more sons and daughters were born to David. 14 Now these are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, 15 Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, 16 Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet. |
1 Now Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, with masons and carpenters, to build him a house. 2 So David knew that the LORD had established him as king over Israel, for his kingdom was highly exalted for the sake of His people Israel. 3 ¶ Then David took more wives in Jerusalem, and David begot more sons and daughters. 4 And these are the names of his children whom he had in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, 5 Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet, 6 Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, 7 Elishama, Beeliada, and Eliphelet. |
With lots of wives, you get lots of children. No, no...this is not all of them by a long shot, but these are born in Jerusalem. We find a list of those born in Hebron along with these also in I Chronicles 3:1-9 (see notes). Deuteronomy 17:16-17 (see notes) says of a the future King of Israel, "But he shall not multiply horses for himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt to multiply horses, for the LORD has said to you, 'You shall not return that way again. Neither shall he multiply wives for himself, lest his heart turn away; nor shall he greatly multiply silver and gold for himself.'" The Hebrew verb for "multiply" means "to create an abundance." It appears that David had "an abundance" of wives...contrary to the Law of Moses.
David has a couple of bouts with the Philistines (II Samuel 5:17-25; I Chronicles 14:8-17)
II Samuel 5 |
I Chronicles 14 |
| 17 ¶ Now when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. And David heard of it and went down to the stronghold. 18 The Philistines also went and deployed themselves in the Valley of Rephaim. 19 So David inquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?” ¶ And the LORD said to David, “Go up, for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into your hand.” 20 ¶ So David went to Baal Perazim, and David defeated them there; and he said, “The LORD has broken through my enemies before me, like a breakthrough of water.” Therefore he called the name of that place Baal Perazim. 21 And they left their images there, and David and his men carried them away. 22 ¶ Then the Philistines went up once again and deployed themselves in the Valley of Rephaim. 23 Therefore David inquired of the LORD, and He said, “You shall not go up; circle around behind them, and come upon them in front of the mulberry trees. 24 And it shall be, when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then you shall advance quickly. For then the LORD will go out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.” 25 And David did so, as the LORD commanded him; and he drove back the Philistines from Geba as far as Gezer. |
8 ¶ Now when the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. And David heard of it and went out against them. 9 Then the Philistines went and made a raid on the Valley of Rephaim. 10 And David inquired of God, saying, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?” ¶ The LORD said to him, “Go up, for I will deliver them into your hand.” 11 ¶ So they went up to Baal Perazim, and David defeated them there. Then David said, “God has broken through my enemies by my hand like a breakthrough of water.” Therefore they called the name of that place Baal Perazim. 12 And when they left their gods there, David gave a commandment, and they were burned with fire. 13 ¶ Then the Philistines once again made a raid on the valley. 14 Therefore David inquired again of God, and God said to him, “You shall not go up after them; circle around them, and come upon them in front of the mulberry trees. 15 And it shall be, when you hear a sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then you shall go out to battle, for God has gone out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.” 16 So David did as God commanded him, and they drove back the army of the Philistines from Gibeon as far as Gezer. 17 Then the fame of David went out into all lands, and the LORD brought the fear of him upon all nations. |
For the Philistines, their trouble has just begun with David now as King of Israel; they finally figure out that David is their enemy. Remember back in I Samuel 29 (see notes) when David was being pursued by Saul? Among whom did he live? The Philistines! But now he's the king of the nation that is their enemy. David seemed to have gotten a honeymoon period while he was just King over Judah, but here they come against David now that he is King over all of Israel. David consults his battle planner, Jehovah (twice in this passage), and soundly defeats the Philistines in northern Judah. In the process of getting trounced by David's army, the Philistines left their idols behind; David and his men burn those idols. Then, on their second battle attempt against David, Jehovah instructs David to come up from behind them - BOOM! Battle over. After those victories, we are told that the nations around Israel feared David and Israel.
We notice from II Samuel 5:25 and I Chronicles 14:16 that David's conquest did not include the city of Gezer. Later, the Egyptian Pharaoh conquered Gezer and gave it to Solomon as a dowry for his daughter in I Kings 9:16 (see notes), Solomon's first wife on record.
How NOT to transport an Ark! (II Samuel 6:1-12; I Chronicles 13)
II Samuel 6 |
I Chronicles 13 |
| 1 Again David gathered all the choice men of Israel, thirty thousand. 2 And David arose and went with all the people who were with him from Baale Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, whose name is called by the Name, the LORD of Hosts, who dwells between the cherubim. 3 So they set the ark of God on a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill; and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drove the new cart. 4 And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill, accompanying the ark of God; and Ahio went before the ark. 5 Then David and all the house of Israel played music before the LORD on all kinds of instruments of fir wood, on harps, on stringed instruments, on tambourines, on sistrums, and on cymbals. 6 ¶ And when they came to Nachon’s threshing floor, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled. 7 Then the anger of the LORD was aroused against Uzzah, and God struck him there for his error; and he died there by the ark of God. 8 And David became angry because of the LORD’S outbreak against Uzzah; and he called the name of the place Perez Uzzah to this day. 9 ¶ David was afraid of the LORD that day; and he said, “How can the ark of the LORD come to me?” 10 So David would not move the ark of the LORD with him into the City of David; but David took it aside into the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. 11 The ark of the LORD remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite three months. And the LORD blessed Obed-edom and all his household. 12 ¶ Now it was told King David, saying, “The LORD has blessed the house of Obed-edom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God.” So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom to the City of David with gladness. |
1 Then David consulted with the captains of thousands and hundreds, and with every leader. 2 And David said to all the assembly of Israel, “If it seems good to you, and if it is of the LORD our God, let us send out to our brethren everywhere who are left in all the land of Israel, and with them to the priests and Levites who are in their cities and their common-lands, that they may gather together to us; 3 and let us bring the ark of our God back to us, for we have not inquired at it since the days of Saul.” 4 Then all the assembly said that they would do so, for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people. 5 ¶ So David gathered all Israel together, from Shihor in Egypt to as far as the entrance of Hamath, to bring the ark of God from Kirjath Jearim. 6 And David and all Israel went up to Baalah, to Kirjath Jearim, which belonged to Judah, to bring up from there the ark of God the LORD, who dwells between the cherubim, where His name is proclaimed. 7 So they carried the ark of God on a new cart from the house of Abinadab, and Uzza and Ahio drove the cart. 8 Then David and all Israel played music before God with all their might, with singing, on harps, on stringed instruments, on tambourines, on cymbals, and with trumpets. 9 ¶ And when they came to Chidon’s threshing floor, Uzza put out his hand to hold the ark, for the oxen stumbled. 10 Then the anger of the LORD was aroused against Uzza, and He struck him because he put his hand to the ark; and he died there before God. 11 And David became angry because of the LORD’S outbreak against Uzza; therefore that place is called Perez Uzza to this day. 12 David was afraid of God that day, saying, “How can I bring the ark of God to me?” 13 ¶ So David would not move the ark with him into the City of David, but took it aside into the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. 14 The ark of God remained with the family of Obed-Edom in his house three months. And the LORD blessed the house of Obed-Edom and all that he had. |
Let's transport the ark to it's new home in Jerusalem. No...not the big boat - the Ark of the Covenant! It had resided at Shiloh during Eli's day (I Samuel 4, see notes) before Israel decided to take it to battle against the Philistines when it was captured. Remember how much grief it gave the Philistines when they captured it (I Samuel 5, see notes)? Well, Abinidab, a Levite, has been keeping it in his house since they got it back many years ago. It had been delivered by the Philistines to Abinadab at Kiriath Jearim about eight miles west of Jerusalem on the border between Benjamin and Judah. Saul made no attempt to have the ark returned to its proper home, but David sees the importance and determines to bring it to home...well...sort of home.
David wants the ark moved to his new capital city, Jerusalem. The tabernacle built by Moses is actually set up in Gibeon at this point in time. David gets two professional ark movers to do the job, Abinidab's sons Ahio and Uzzah accompanied by 30,000 security guards. Oh, by the way David, there's a God-approved way to move the ark! But these "professionals" decide to haul it on a cart instead - bad mistake! Remember the specific instructions in Exodus 25:12-15 (see notes) regarding the exact procedures for moving the Ark? Well, the high-tech oxen-pulled cart is not in that passage. Leading the way - a big band even includes King David himself. When the cart begins to tip, Uzzah's there to steady it with his hand; he drops dead; that's no way to carry an ark! Discouraged at the incident and afraid of God, David parks the ark with a Levite for further consideration at a later time. That takes the wind out of that sail; David leaves it there at the house of Obededom the Gittite so he can regroup after this tragedy; it stays there for 3 months. Incidentally, the House of Obededom prospers as a result of the presence of the Ark (II Samuel 6:11; I Chronicles 13:14).
Let's take another shot at getting the ark to Jerusalem (II Samuel 6:13-23; I Chronicles 15)
II Samuel 6 |
I Chronicles 15 |
| 13 And so it was, when those bearing the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, that he sacrificed oxen and fatted sheep. 14 Then David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was wearing a linen ephod. 15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting and with the sound of the trumpet. 16 ¶ Now as the ark of the LORD came into the City of David, Michal, Saul’s daughter, looked through a window and saw King David leaping and whirling before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart. 17 So they brought the ark of the LORD, and set it in its place in the midst of the tabernacle that David had erected for it. Then David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD. 18 And when David had finished offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts. 19 Then he distributed among all the people, among the whole multitude of Israel, both the women and the men, to everyone a loaf of bread, a piece of meat, and a cake of raisins. So all the people departed, everyone to his house. 20 ¶ Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, “How glorious was the king of Israel today, uncovering himself today in the eyes of the maids of his servants, as one of the base fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!” 21 ¶ So David said to Michal, “It was before the LORD, who chose me instead of your father and all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel. Therefore I will play music before the LORD. 22 And I will be even more undignified than this, and will be humble in my own sight. But as for the maidservants of whom you have spoken, by them I will be held in honor.” 23 ¶ Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death. |
1 David built houses for himself in the City of David; and he prepared a place for the ark of God, and pitched a tent for it. 2 Then David said, “No one may carry the ark of God but the Levites, for the LORD has chosen them to carry the ark of God and to minister before Him forever.” 3 And David gathered all Israel together at Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the LORD to its place, which he had prepared for it. 4 Then David assembled the children of Aaron and the Levites: 5 of the sons of Kohath, Uriel the chief, and one hundred and twenty of his brethren; 6 of the sons of Merari, Asaiah the chief, and two hundred and twenty of his brethren; 7 of the sons of Gershom, Joel the chief, and one hundred and thirty of his brethren; 8 of the sons of Elizaphan, Shemaiah the chief, and two hundred of his brethren; 9 of the sons of Hebron, Eliel the chief, and eighty of his brethren; 10 of the sons of Uzziel, Amminadab the chief, and one hundred and twelve of his brethren. 11 ¶ And David called for Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and for the Levites: for Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab. 12 He said to them, “You are the heads of the fathers’ houses of the Levites; sanctify yourselves, you and your brethren, that you may bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel to the place I have prepared for it. 13 For because you did not do it the first time, the LORD our God broke out against us, because we did not consult Him about the proper order.” 14 ¶ So the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel. 15 And the children of the Levites bore the ark of God on their shoulders, by its poles, as Moses had commanded according to the word of the LORD. 16 ¶ Then David spoke to the leaders of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be the singers accompanied by instruments of music, stringed instruments, harps, and cymbals, by raising the voice with resounding joy. 17 So the Levites appointed Heman the son of Joel; and of his brethren, Asaph the son of Berechiah; and of their brethren, the sons of Merari, Ethan the son of Kushaiah; 18 and with them their brethren of the second rank: Zechariah, Ben, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Elipheleh, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, and Jeiel, the gatekeepers; 19 the singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, were to sound the cymbals of bronze; 20 Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah, with strings according to Alamoth; 21 Mattithiah, Elipheleh, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah, to direct with harps on the Sheminith; 22 Chenaniah, leader of the Levites, was instructor in charge of the music, because he was skillful; 23 Berechiah and Elkanah were doorkeepers for the ark; 24 Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer, the priests, were to blow the trumpets before the ark of God; and Obed-Edom and Jehiah, doorkeepers for the ark. 25 ¶ So David, the elders of Israel, and the captains over thousands went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD from the house of Obed-Edom with joy. 26 And so it was, when God helped the Levites who bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD, that they offered seven bulls and seven rams. 27 David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, as were all the Levites who bore the ark, the singers, and Chenaniah the music master with the singers. David also wore a linen ephod. 28 Thus all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the LORD with shouting and with the sound of the horn, with trumpets and with cymbals, making music with stringed instruments and harps. 29 ¶ And it happened, as the ark of the covenant of the LORD came to the City of David, that Michal, Saul’s daughter, looked through a window and saw King David whirling and playing music; and she despised him in her heart. |
Bad results were experienced on David's first attempt to move the ark to Jerusalem. On this try, some big-time preparations are made. David pulls his two high priests, Zadok and Abiathar in on the deal in verse 11. First, get the priests all consecrated. David’s order to the Levites to “sanctify yourselves" involved certain prescribed ritual washings and the avoidance of any form of ceremonial defilement (Leviticus 8:6-36, see notes). Oh, and most importantly, verse 15 says they used the poles to carry it as they were supposed to in the first place. One more thing, if we're going to move the ark, let's make it a celebration - complete with music. David tells the priests to get their brothers to be the musicians. David's having a big time of celebration when the Ark rolls into Jerusalem (pardon me; there was no "rolling" this time).
Michal, David's first wife and daughter of Saul, is not impressed. After all, here's David dancin' in the streets around the Ark in only a linen ephod without his royal garments, and she's probably thinking, "My Daddy would never have acted like that!" Also remember that she had been taken away from David by Saul and had been given to another man. Afterward, David reclaimed her to be his wife when he was in a position of strength to do so back in II Samuel 3 (see notes). However, also recall when God told Saul through Samuel back in I Samuel 13:8-14 (see notes) that his descendants would not inherit the throne? That's why these verses are so significant. While she once loved David, a lot has happened in between then and now. Now she's just critical; I Chronicles 15 simply reports in verse 29, "she despised him in her heart." II Samuel 6:20 actually reports some of the insults she cast at David. After David gives her his "get over it" speech, the passage states that she never bore children to David (verse 23), thus fulfilling the prophecy by Samuel in I Samuel 13:8-14 (see notes) that Saul's descendants would have no part of the future throne.
We should take particular notice of II Samuel 6:17, "So they brought the ark of the LORD, and set it in its place in the midst of the tabernacle that David had erected for it. Then David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD." David had built a new tabernacle in Jerusalem for the ark of the covenant. The other tabernacle is very, very old at this point in time and still resides in Gibeon according to I Chronicles 16:39-40 (see below). We are not given any details regarding the construction of the new tabernacle. It obviously had an altar where sacrifices could be made as was done on this day.
Then there's a big ol' the-ark-is-home celebration (I Chronicles 16)
1 So they brought the ark of God, and set it in the midst of the tabernacle that David had erected for it. Then they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before God.
2 And when David had finished offering the burnt offerings and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD.
3 Then he distributed to everyone of Israel, both man and woman, to everyone a loaf of bread, a piece of meat, and a cake of raisins.
4 ¶ And he appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of the LORD, to commemorate, to thank, and to praise the LORD God of Israel:
5 Asaph the chief, and next to him Zechariah, then Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, and Obed-Edom: Jeiel with stringed instruments and harps, but Asaph made music with cymbals;
6 Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests regularly blew the trumpets before the ark of the covenant of God.
7 ¶ On that day David first delivered this psalm into the hand of Asaph and his brethren, to thank the LORD:
8 Oh, give thanks to the LORD!
Call upon His name;
Make known His deeds among the peoples!
9 Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him;
Talk of all His wondrous works!
10 Glory in His holy name;
Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the LORD!
11 Seek the LORD and His strength;
Seek His face evermore!
12 Remember His marvelous works which He has done,
His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth,
13 O seed of Israel His servant,
You children of Jacob, His chosen ones!
14 He is the LORD our God;
His judgments are in all the earth.
15 Remember His covenant forever,
The word which He commanded, for a thousand generations,
16 The covenant which He made with Abraham,
And His oath to Isaac,
17 And confirmed it to Jacob for a statute,
To Israel for an everlasting covenant,
18 Saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan
As the allotment of your inheritance,”
19 When you were few in number,
Indeed very few, and strangers in it.
20 When they went from one nation to another,
And from one kingdom to another people,
21 He permitted no man to do them wrong;
Yes, He rebuked kings for their sakes,
22 Saying, “Do not touch My anointed ones,
And do My prophets no harm.”
23 Sing to the LORD, all the earth;
Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day.
24 Declare His glory among the nations,
His wonders among all peoples.
25 For the LORD is great and greatly to be praised;
He is also to be feared above all gods.
26 For all the gods of the peoples are idols,
But the LORD made the heavens.
27 Honor and majesty are before Him;
Strength and gladness are in His place.
28 Give to the LORD, O families of the peoples,
Give to the LORD glory and strength.
29 Give to the LORD the glory due His name;
Bring an offering, and come before Him.
Oh, worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness!
30 Tremble before Him, all the earth.
The world also is firmly established,
It shall not be moved.
31 Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad;
And let them say among the nations, “The LORD reigns.”
32 Let the sea roar, and all its fullness;
Let the field rejoice, and all that is in it.
33 Then the trees of the woods shall rejoice before the LORD,
For He is coming to judge the earth.
34 Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.
35 And say, “Save us, O God of our salvation;
Gather us together, and deliver us from the Gentiles,
To give thanks to Your holy name,
To triumph in Your praise.”
36 Blessed be the LORD God of Israel
From everlasting to everlasting! And all the people said, “Amen!” and praised the LORD.
37 ¶ So he left Asaph and his brothers there before the ark of the covenant of the LORD to minister before the ark regularly, as every day’s work required;
38 and Obed-Edom with his sixty-eight brethren, including Obed-Edom the son of Jeduthun, and Hosah, to be gatekeepers;
39 and Zadok the priest and his brethren the priests, before the tabernacle of the LORD at the high place that was at Gibeon,
40 to offer burnt offerings to the LORD on the altar of burnt offering regularly morning and evening, and to do according to all that is written in the Law of the LORD which He commanded Israel;
41 and with them Heman and Jeduthun and the rest who were chosen, who were designated by name, to give thanks to the LORD, because His mercy endures forever;
42 and with them Heman and Jeduthun, to sound aloud with trumpets and cymbals and the musical instruments of God. Now the sons of Jeduthun were gatekeepers.
43 ¶ Then all the people departed, every man to his house; and David returned to bless his house.
Finally, the ark gets a home. When the job's done, David distributes food - a full meal to everyone. Then, the big song of thanksgiving - sung by his newly-formed men's ensemble headed up by Asaph. The song begins in verse 8 and ends in verse 36 with, "Blessed be the LORD God of Israel From everlasting to everlasting! And all the people said, 'Amen!' and praised the LORD." It's a song that recounts the covenant between God and Israel and invokes the names of Abraham and Jacob in the lyrics. The album goes super platinum - still being played today. Of course...when the king writes a song and has it sung by special singers before the people, what else are the song critics going to say? Job complete! The ark's now in Jerusalem!
It should be noted that verses 39-40 clearly indicate that the tabernacle is now residing in Gibeon. Since the ark had been removed from the tabernacle back in Eli's day (I Samuel 4, see notes), it had never been returned there. And now...it's still not to be returned to the tabernacle, but instead resides in a special place in Jerusalem prepared by King David.