After all of the years in the portable Tabernacle In The Wilderness (see also What Happened To The Tabernacle?), The Ark Of The Covenant had arrived home in Israel, but not entirely home to Jerusalem. King David (see also The United Kingdom) recognized that The Ark belonged in Jerusalem and had it moved.
"David consulted with the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, with every leader. And David said to all the assembly of Israel, "If it seems good to you, and if it is the will of The Lord our God, let us send abroad to our brethren who remain in all the land of Israel, and with them to the priests and Levites in the cities that have pasture lands, that they may come together to us. Then let us bring again the ark of our God to us; for we neglected it in the days of Saul." All the assembly agreed to do so, for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people." (1 Chronicles 13:1-4 RSV) "And they carried the ark of God upon a new cart, from the house of Abinadab, and Uzzah and Ahio were driving the cart. And David and all Israel were making merry before God with all their might, with song and lyres and harps and tambourines and cymbals and trumpets." (1 Chronicles 13:7-8 RSV)The Ark was not to be touched by anyone other than specific, authorized Levites (see Raiders Of The Lost Ark). When Uzzah, one of the drivers of the cart, touched it, he was put to death by The Lord (see also Why Did Christ Put Moses To Death?). The incident caused David to change his plans about bringing The Ark into his palace.
"And when they came to the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzzah put out his hand to hold the ark, for the oxen stumbled. And the anger of The Lord was kindled against Uzzah; and he smote him because he put forth his hand to the ark; and he died there before God." (1 Chronicles 13:9-10 RSV) "And David was afraid of God that day; and he said, "How can I bring the ark of God home to me?" So David did not take the ark home into The City of David, but took it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. And the ark of God remained with the household of Obed-edom in his house three months; and The Lord blessed the household of Obed-edom and all that he had." (1 Chronicles 13:12-14 RSV)1 Chronicles Chapter 14
King Hiram Of Tyre was a consistent ally to King David, and later to David's son Solomon. Much of the Lebanese cedar that was used in the construction of the king's palace, and later the Temple, was supplied by Hiram.
"And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, also masons and carpenters to build a house for him. And David perceived that The Lord had established him king over Israel, and that his kingdom was highly exalted for the sake of his people Israel." (1 Chronicles 14:1-2 RSV)David married many women, from whom were born numerous sons and daughters of the king - a very large family that later had deadly rivalry for the throne e.g. Absalom.
"And David took more wives in Jerusalem, and David begot more sons and daughters. These are the names of the children whom he had in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet, Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, Elishama, Beeliada, and Eliphelet." (1 Chronicles 14:3-7 RSV)The Philistines remained a persistent enemy of Israel. David's battles with them continued through his entire life, beginning with Goliath when David was just a young shepherd.
"When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, all the Philistines went up in search of David; and David heard of it and went out against them. Now the Philistines had come and made a raid in the valley of Rephaim. And David inquired of God, "Shall I go up against the Philistines? Wilt thou give them into my hand?" And The Lord said to him, "Go up, and I will give them into your hand."1 Chronicles Chapter 15
And he went up to Baal-perazim, and David defeated them there; and David said, "God has broken through my enemies by my hand, like a bursting flood." Therefore the name of that place is called Baal-perazim. And they left their gods there, and David gave command, and they were burned.
And the Philistines yet again made a raid in the valley. And when David again inquired of God, God said to him, "You shall not go up after them; go around and come upon them opposite the balsam trees. And when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then go out to battle; for God has gone out before you to smite the army of the Philistines." And David did as God commanded him, and they smote the Philistine army from Gibeon to Gezer.
And the fame of David went out into all lands, and The Lord brought the fear of him upon all nations." (1 Chronicles 14:8-17 RSV)
David had realized his earlier mistake in how he had The Ark transported. He tried again, this time according to The Lord's instructions: "No one but the Levites may carry the ark of God."
"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. Then David said, "No one but the Levites may carry the ark of God, for The Lord chose them to carry the ark of The Lord and to minister to him for ever." And David assembled all Israel at Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of The Lord to its place, which he had prepared for it." (1 Chronicles 15:1-3 RSV)The Levites successfully moved The Ark:
"Then David summoned the priests Zadok and Abiathar [see The Lines Of Eleazar and Ithamar], and the Levites Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab, and said to them, "You are the heads of the fathers' houses of the Levites; sanctify yourselves, you and your brethren, so that you may bring up the ark of The Lord, the God of Israel, to the place that I have prepared for it. Because you did not carry it the first time, The Lord our God broke forth upon us, because we did not care for it in the way that is ordained." So the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of The Lord, the God of Israel. And the Levites carried the ark of God upon their shoulders with the poles [see Staves], as Moses had commanded according to the word of The Lord." (1 Chronicles 15:11-15 RSV)The Ark arrived in Jerusalem amidst great celebration.
"So David and the elders of Israel, and the commanders of thousands, went to bring up the ark of the covenant of The Lord from the house of Obed-edom with rejoicing. And because God helped the Levites who were carrying the ark of the covenant of The Lord, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams. David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, as also were all the Levites who were carrying the ark, and the singers, and Chenaniah the leader of the music of the singers; and David wore a linen ephod. So all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of The Lord with shouting, to the sound of the horn, trumpets, and cymbals, and made loud music on harps and lyres." (1 Chronicles 15:25-28 RSV)
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