And other of their brethren, the sons of Kohath, had the oversight of the shewbread, to prepare against all Sabbaths.

These are the singers - ancient heads among the Levites divided by chambers, for they had to do both day and night.

Then said Saul to his weapon bearer, "Draw thy sword and thrust me through therewith, that these uncircumcised come not and do me shame." And his weapon bearer would not, but feared exceedingly. Whereupon, Saul caught a sword and fell upon it.

And on the morrow when the Philistines came to strip the dead bodies, they found Saul and his sons overthrown in mount Gilboa.

And when they had stripped him they took his head and his harness and sent them into the land of the Philistines round about to show tidings unto their idols and to the people.

And when all they of Jabesh in Gilead heard all that the Philistines had done to Saul,

all the men of war arose and fetched away the body of Saul, and the bodies of his sons and brought them to Jabesh and buried the bones of them under an oak in Jabesh, and fasted seven days.

Then all Israel gathered themselves to David unto Hebron, and said, "See, we be thy bones and thy flesh.

And when all the elders of Israel were come to the king to Hebron, David made a covenant with them there before the LORD. And they anointed David king over Israel according to the word of the LORD by the hand of Samuel.

And David and all Israel went to Jerusalem which is Jebus: for there dwelt the Jebusites the inhabiters of the land.

And the inhabiters of Jebus said to David, "Thou comest not here." Neverthelater, David won the castle of Zion, which is called the city of David.

These are the principal men of power that clave to David in his kingdom with all Israel, to make him king upon Israel according to the word of the LORD.

He was with David at Pasdammim where the Philistines were gathered to battle. And there was there a parcel of ground full of barley, and the people fled for fear of the Philistines.

And the three of the thirty chiefs went to a rock to David at the cave Adullam. And the Host of the Philistines had pitched in the valley of Rephaim.

And David longed and said, "Oh that one would give me of the water of the well of Bethlehem that is in the gate, for to drink."

And the three brake through the host of the Philistines and drew of the water of the well of Bethlehem that was in the gate, and took it and brought it to David. Nevertheless David would not drink of it, but offered it to the LORD,

and said, "God forbid it me, that I should do this thing, that I should drink the blood of these men that have put their lives in Jeopardy." For with the Jeopardy of their lives they brought it, and therefore he would not drink it. This did the three mightiest.

And he was much more nobler than any of the three, and was their captain. But was not like to any of the three in acts.

Benaiah the son of Jehoiada the son of a strong man that had done great deeds and was of Kabzeel: he slew two strong lions of Moab, and went down and slew a Lion in a pit in time of snow.

And he slew an Egyptian which was a man of size, even five cubits long, and in his hand had a spear like a weaver's beam. And the other went to him with a waster and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian's hand, and slew him with his spear.

Ithai the son of Ribai of Gibeah that pertaineth to the children of Benjamin: Benaiah the Pirathonite;

And these following came to David to Ziklag, while he yet kept himself close for fear of Saul the son of Kish: and they were of the men that succored the battle,

and Ishmaiah a Gibeonite as mighty as any of thirty and more mighty too; and Jeremiah, Jahaziel, Johanan and Jozabad of Gedor;

And they put to flight them of the valley both of the east side and also of the west. And there came of the children of Benjamin and Judah to the hold of David.

And David went out to them and answered and said to them, "If ye be come peaceably unto me, to help me, mine heart shall be together with you. But and if you come to beguile me and to be mine adversary, seeing there is no wickedness in mine hands, the God of our fathers look thereon and rebuke it."

And of Manasseh, there fell certain unto David when he went with the Philistines against Saul to battle, but helped them not. For the lords of the Philistines took counsel and sent him away saying, "He will fall to his master Saul to the Jeopardy of our heads."

And as he went to Ziklag there fell to him of Manasseh: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, and Jozabad, Elihu and Zillethai, heads of the thousands of Manasseh.

And there came one or other to David day by day to help him: until it was a great host, like the host of God.

And this is the number of the heads prepared to battle, that came to David to Hebron, to turn the kingdom of Saul to him, according to the mouth of the LORD.

The children of Judah that bore shield and spear were six thousand and eight hundred trimmed to war.

Of the children of Simeon, men of might to war, seven thousand and one hundred.

And Zadok, a young man of great power, had his father's household with Captains, twenty two.

And of the half tribe of Manasseh eighteen thousand which were appointed by name to go to make David king.

And of the children of Issachar which were men that had understanding in the right time to know what Israel ought to do: The heads of them were two hundred, and all their brethren at their will.

And of Zebulun that went out with the Host and proceeded in the array to battle with all manner of weapons of war, fifty thousand that kept in order with one accord.

And of Dan prepared to battle, were twenty eight thousand and six hundred.

And of Asher that went out with the host to make battle, forty thousand.

All these, being men of war able to order the array, came to Hebron with pure heart, to make David king upon all Israel. And thereto all the rest of Israel was of one accord to make David king.

Moreover, they that were nigh to them, as Issachar, Zebulun and, Naphtali, brought bread on asses, camels, mules and oxen, and meat: flour, figs, raisins, wine, oil, oxen, and sheep abundantly. For there was mirth in Israel.

and said unto all the congregation of Israel, "If it seem you good - and also to be of the LORD our God - Let us take and send unto the remnant of our brethren throughout all the land of Israel, and to the priests and Levites with them, in their cities and suburbs, and gather them together to us.

And let us bring again the Ark of the Lord to us: for we regarded it not in the days of Saul."

And all the congregation was content so to do, for the thing seemed good in the eyes of all the people.

And David gathered all Israel together from Shihor in Egypt unto Hamath, to bring the Ark of the Lord from Kiriathjearim.

And David went up, and all Israel, to Baalah, and so to Kiriathjearim that is in Judah, to fetch thence the Ark of the God and LORD that sitteth on the Cherubs, where his name is called on.

And when they came on the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzzah put forth his hand to hold the ark, for the oxen stumbled.

And the LORD was wroth with Uzzah and smote him, because he put his hand to the Ark.

And there he died before God. And David was displeased, because the LORD had rent a rent in Uzzah, and called the said place Perezuzzah unto this day.

And David was so afraid of God that day, that he said, "How shall I bring the Ark of God home to me?"

And so David brought not the Ark home to him in the city of David: But turned it in to the house of Obededom o Gittite,

After that Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and timber of cedar trees with masons and carpenters, to build him a house.

Whereby David perceived that the LORD had prepared him to be king upon Israel, in that his kingdom was lifted up on high, because of his people Israel.

And when it was known among the Philistines that David was anointed king upon all Israel, all the Philistines went up to seek David. And David heard of it and went out against them.

And David asked God, saying, "Shall I go against the Philistines and wilt thou deliver them into mine hands?" And the LORD said to him: "Go, for I will deliver them into thine hand."

And they left their gods there, which David bade to be burnt with fire.

Then David asked God, And God said to him, "Go not after them, but turn away from them, and come upon them straight from the pear trees.

And when thou hearest a sound go in the tops of the pear trees, then go out to battle: for God will go out before thee to smite the host of the Philistines."

And David did as God commanded him. And they smote the host of the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.

And then David said, "The Ark of God ought not to be carried but of the Levites. For them hath the LORD chosen to bear the Ark of the LORD and to minister to him forever."

And therefore David gathered all Israel to Jerusalem, to fetch the Ark of the LORD unto the place which he had ordained for it.

And of the children of Merari: Asaiah the chief, and of his brethren two hundred and twenty.

And of the children of Elizaphan: Shemaiah the chief and of his brethren two hundred.

And David called to Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and to the Levites Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel and Amminadab;

For because ye were not there at the first time, the LORD our God made a rent among us, for that we sought him not as the fashion ought to be."

And the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to fetch the Ark of the LORD God of Israel.

And the children of the Levites bare the Ark of God upon their shoulders with staves thereon as Moses commanded according to the word of the LORD.

And David spake to the chief heads of the Levites, that they should appoint of their brethren to sing with instruments of music: psalteries, harps and cymbals that sounded, and to sing on high with Joyfulness.

Heman, Asaph and Ethan sang with cymbals of brass to make a sound.

And Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obededom, Jeiel, and Azaziah sang with harps an eight above to courage with all.

And Chenaniah the chief of the Levites was master of the song and taught to sing, for he was a man of understanding.

And David and the elders of Israel and the Captains over thousands went to fetch the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD out of the house of Obededom with gladness.

And he appointed certain of the Levites to minister before the LORD, and to repeat, and to thank and praise the LORD God of Israel:

even Asaph the chief, and next to him Zachariah then Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obededom, and Jeiel with Psalteries and harps. But Asaph with sounding cymbals,

And that same time David did appoint chiefly to thank the LORD by Asaph and his brethren:

Think on his covenant ever, and on the word he commanded to a thousand generations.

Of his covenant to Abraham, and of his oath to Isaac:

which he set before Jacob for a decree, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant, saying,

'To thee I will give the land of Canaan, to be the portion of your inheritance.'

And they went from people to people, and from one kingdom to another nation.

He suffered no man to do them wrong: But rebuked kings for their sakes.

'Touch not mine anointed, nor do my Prophets any harm.'

Sing unto the LORD all the earth: and show from day to day his victories.

For great is the LORD and to be praised exceedingly: and terrible is he above all Gods.

Ascribe to the LORD ye kindreds of people; Ascribe to the LORD Glory and strength.

Give honour unto the LORD's name: bring presents and come before him, and bow to the LORD in holy apparel.

Moreover, let the trees of the wood ring at the presence of the LORD: for he cometh to judge the earth.

And say, 'Save us o God our saviour and gather us together and deliver us from among the heathen, to thank thy holy name, and to praise thee with the praise that becometh thee.

And he left there before the ark of the LORD's covenant, Asaph and his brethren, to minister before the Ark evermore day by day.

And Obededom with his brethren three score and eight, and Obededom the son of Jeduthun and Uzzah to be porters.

to offer burnt offerings unto the LORD upon the burnt offering altar perpetually at morning and evening, according to all that is written in the law of the LORD which he commanded Israel.

And with them Heman and Jeduthun, and other that were chosen and named by name, to thank the LORD that his mercy lasteth ever.

And then all the people departed, every man to his house: and David returned to salute his household.

And as David dwelt in his house he said to Nathan the prophet, "Lo, I dwell in a house of cedar tree: and the Ark of the LORD's covenant dwelleth under curtains."

And Nathan said to David, "Do all that is in thine heart, for God is with thee."

But the same night the word of God came to Nathan, saying,

"Go and tell David my servant, 'Thus sayeth the LORD: thou shalt not build me a house to dwell in.

For I have dwelt in no house since I brought out the children of Israel unto this day: But have gone from tent to tent and from one tabernacle to another.

Neither in any place wheresoever I have walked throughout all Israel, spake I ever one word to any of the judges of Israel which I commanded to feed my people, saying, 'Why build ye me not a house of Cedar tree?'

and since the time I commanded judges to be over my people Israel, and will bring under all thine enemies - for I told thee that the LORD would build thee a house.

When Nathan had told David according to all these words, and to all this vision, king David went

And yet this seemed little in thine eyes O God. But that thou shouldest speak of thy servant's house for a great while to come: and hast looked upon me as upon a man of high degree, O LORD God.