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And David called for Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and for the Levites, for Uriel, Asaiah, and Joel, Shemaiah, and Eliel and Aminadab,

And said unto them, Ye are the chief of the fathers of the Levites, sanctify yourselves both both ye and your brethren, that ye may bring up the ark of the LORD GoD of Israel unto the place that I have prepared for it. For because ye did it not at the the first, the LORD our God made a breach upon us, for that we sought him not after the due order.

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So the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of the LORD GOD of Israel.

And the children of the Levites bare the ark of GoD upon their shoulders, as Moses commanded.

And David spake to the chief of the Levites, to ap point their brethren to be the singers with instruments of music, psalteries, and harps and cymbals sounding, by lifting up the voice with joy. And they did se

So David and the elders of Israel, and the captains over thousands, went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD, out of the house of Obed-edom, with joy. the agen And it came to pass, when God helped the Levites at bare t the ark of the covenant of the LORD, that they offered seven bullocks and seven rams.

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And David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, and all the Levites that bare the ark, and the singers, and Chenaniah the master of the song, with the singers: David also had upon him an ephod of linen.

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And it came to pass, as the ark of the covenant of the LORD came to the city of David, that Michal the daughter of Saul, looking out at a window, saw king David dancing and playing, and she despised him in her

heart.

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So they brought the ark of GOD, and set it in the

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midst of the tent that David had pitched for it: and they offered-burnt sacrifices and peace-offerings before GOD.

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And when David had made an end of offering the burnt-offerings and the peace-offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD.

**And he dealt to every one of Israel, both man and woman, to every one a loaf of bread and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine.

And he appointed certain of the Levites to minister before the ark of the LORD, and to record, and to thank and praise the LORD GOD of Israel with psalteries, and with harps, with cymbals and with trumpets, continually before the ark of the covenant of GOD.

So he left there before the ark of the covenant of the LORD, Asaph and his brethren, to minister before the ark continually, as every day's work required.

And Zadok the priest and his brethren the priests, before the tabernacle of the LORD, in the high place that was at Gibeon.

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And all the people departed every man to his house: and David returned to bless his household."

And Michal Saul's daughter came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel to-day, who appeared in the eyes of the maid-servants as one of the vain fellows..

And David said unto Michal, It was before the LonD which chose me before my father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD,. over Israel; therefore will I play before the LORD.

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And I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight: and of the maid-s which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honour.

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ANNOTATIONS

ANNOTATIONS AND REFLECTIONS. CA

Whilst the ark remained at the house of Obed-edom, David fully instructed himself concerning the requisite" ceremonials; the priests and Levites having also tho? roughly considered the matter, the congregation of Israel was once more assembled, and the procession began with solemnity and decorum. The Levites were arrayed in robes of fine linen; and the king assuming the character of an humble attendant on the ARK of Gop, laid aside his royal garments, and attired hunself in a long robe, like that worn by the Levites, over which he put an ephod as a mark of distinction.

Before the procession began from the house of Obed-edom, David offered up a devout prayer, and declared his firm belief in the promises of GOD, to him and his posterity, as follows*.

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Lonb, remember David, and all his afflictions, om ziⱭ How he sware unto the LORD, and vowed unto the mighty GOD of Jacob.

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Surely I will not come into the tabernacle of my house, nor go up into my bed; Mlini mă aziz ymd

I will not give sleep to mine eyes, or slumber, to mine eyelids, until I find out a place for the LORD, an habita∞ tion for the mighty God of Jacob.um njah zindows al. -Arise, O LORD, into Thy rest; Thou, and the ark of Thy strength.

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Let Thy priests be clothed with righteousness; and let thy saints shout for joy. Sonora modi talus,ɑoi) For thy servant David's sake, turn not away the face of Thine anointed. I w and salt moque Atable buďt The LORD hath sworn in truth unto David, He will not

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turn from it, Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon

throne.

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upon thy If thy children will keep My covenant, and My testimony that I shall teach them; their children also shall sit upon thy throne for evermore.

For the LORD hath chosen Zion: He hath desired it for His habitation.

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This is My rest for ever; here will I dwell, for I have desired it.

I will abundantly bless her provision: I will satisfy with bread,

her poor

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I will also clothe her priests with salvation: and her saints shall shout aloud for joy,

"There will I make the horn of David to bud: I have ordained a lamp for mine anointed.

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His enemies will I clothe with shame: but upon himself shall his crown flourish.

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a bas The latter part of this Psalm bears evident marks of Divine inspiration. It is supposed, that the following Psalm was sung in divisions to solemn music*.

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Sung when the Priests lifted up the Arkt. Let GoD arise, let His enemies be scattered: let them also that hate Him flee before Him.

As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.

• But let the righteous be glad let them rejoice before GOD, yea, let them exceedingly rejoice.

Sing unto God, sing praises to His name: extol Him that rideth upon the heavens by His name JAH, and rejoice before Him.

* Dr. Chandler's Life of David,

+ Psalm lxviii.

A father

A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is GOD in His holy habitation.

PART II.

Sung when the Ark was placed on the Shoulders of the Levites.

O GOD, when Thou wentest forth before Thy people; when Thou didst march through the wilderness; ?

The earth shook, the heavens also drooped at the presence of GOD: even Sinah itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel.!

The LORD gave the word, great was the company of those that published it.

Kings of armies did flee apace: and she that tarried at home divided the spoil...

Though ye have lien among the pots, yet shall ye be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold.

The words in the first part, agree with those used by Moses and the Israelites whenever they removed the ark: those in the second, served to remind the people of God's former mercies to the house of Jacob.

When the ark was in view of mount Sion, it is probable this was sung.

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The chariots of GOD are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels; the LORD is among them as in Sinai, in the holy place.

Blessed be the LORD, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation..

He that is our God is the God of salvation: and unto GOD the LORD belong the issues from death.

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