while David and all Israel<n id="1" /> were energetically celebrating before the <sc>Lordsc>, singing<n id="2" /> and playing various stringed instruments,<n id="3" /> tambourines, rattles,<n id="4" /> and cymbals.p>

The <sc>Lordsc> was so furious with Uzzah,<n id="1" /> he<n id="2" /> killed him on the spot<n id="3" /> for his negligence.<n id="4" /> He died right there beside the ark of God.p>

<p class="bodytext">David was angry because the <sc>Lordsc> attacked<n id="1" /> Uzzah; so he called that place Perez Uzzah,<n id="2" /> which remains its name to this very day.

So David was no longer willing to bring the ark of the <sc>Lordsc> to be with him in the City of David. David left it in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite.

&#8220;Go, tell my servant David: &#8216;This is what the <sc>Lordsc> says: Do you really intend to build a house for me to live in?

<t /><p class="bodytext">King David went in, sat before the <sc>Lordsc>, and said, &#8220;Who am I, O <sc>Lordsc> God, and what is my family,<n id="1" /> that you should have brought me to this point?

You made Israel your very own people for all time.<n id="1" /> You, O <sc>Lordsc>, became their God.

So now, O <sc>Lordsc> God, make this promise you have made about your servant and his family a permanent reality.<n id="1" /> Do as you promised,<n id="2" />

so you may gain lasting fame,<n id="1" /> as people say,<n id="2" /> &#8216;The <sc>Lordsc> of hosts is God over Israel!&#8217; The dynasty<n id="3" /> of your servant David will be established before you,

David placed garrisons in the territory of the Arameans of Damascus; the Arameans became David&#8217;s subjects and brought tribute. The <sc>Lordsc> protected<n id="1" /> David wherever he campaigned.<n id="2" />

King David dedicated these things to the <sc>Lordsc>,<n id="1" /> along with the dedicated silver and gold that he had taken from<n id="2" /> all the nations that he had subdued,

<p class="bodytext">Then David became very angry at this man. He said to Nathan, &#8220;As surely as the <sc>Lordsc> lives, the man who did this deserves to die!<n id="1" />

Nonetheless, because you have treated the <sc>Lordsc> with such contempt<n id="1" /> in this matter, the son who has been born to you will certainly die.&#8221;p>

<p class="bodytext">Then Nathan went to his home. The <sc>Lordsc> struck the child that Uriah&#8217;s wife had borne to David, and the child became very ill.<n id="1" />

He replied, &#8220;While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept because I thought,<n id="1" /> &#8216;Perhaps<n id="2" /> the <sc>Lordsc> will show pity and the child will live.

<p class="bodytext">So David comforted his wife Bathsheba. He went to her and had marital relations with her.<n id="1" /> She gave birth to a son, and David<n id="2" /> named him Solomon. Now the <sc>Lordsc> loved the child<n id="3" />

<p class="bodytext">After four<n id="1" /> years Absalom said to the king, &#8220;Let me go and repay my vow that I made to the <sc>Lordsc> while I was in Hebron.

<p class="bodytext">Then the king said to Zadok, &#8220;Take the ark of God back to the city. If I find favor in the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s sight he will bring me back and enable me to see both it and his dwelling place again.

Now David<n id="1" /> had been told, &#8220;Ahithophel has sided with the conspirators who are with Absalom. So David prayed,<n id="2" /> &#8220;Make the advice of Ahithophel foolish, O <sc>Lordsc>!&#8221;p>

Hushai replied to Absalom, &#8220;No, I will be loyal to the one whom the <sc>Lordsc>, these people, and all the men of Israel have chosen.<n id="1" />