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Rh and the blessed Obed-edom, and all his house.

And it was told king David, saying: 'The hath blessed the house of Obed-edom, and all that pertaineth unto him, because of the ark of God.' And David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom into the city of David with joy. And it was so, that when they that bore the ark of the had gone six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fatling. And David danced before the with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the with shouting, and with the sound of the horn.

And it was so, as the ark of the came into the city of David, that Michal the daughter of Saul looked out at the window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the ; and she despised him in her heart. And they brought in the ark of the, and set it in its place, in the midst of the tent that David had pitched for it; and David offered burnt-offerings and peace-offerings before the. And when David had made an end of offering the burnt-offering and the peace-offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the of hosts. And he dealt among all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, both to men and women, to every one a cake of bread, and a cake made in a pan, and a sweet cake. So all the people departed every one to his house.

Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said: 'How did the king of Israel get him honour to-day, who uncovered himself to-day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself!' And David said unto Michal: 'Before the, who chose me above thy father, and above all his house, to appoint me prince over the people of the , over Israel, before the will I make merry. And I will be yet more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight; and with the handmaids whom thou hast spoken of, with them will I get me honour.' And Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death.

And it came to pass, when the king dwelt in his house, and the had given him rest from all his enemies round about, that the king said unto Nathan the prophet: 'See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains.' And Nathan said to the king: 'Go, do all that is in thy heart; for the  is with thee.' And it came to pass the same night, that the word of the  came unto Nathan, saying: 'Go and tell My servant David: Thus saith the : Shalt thou build Me a house for Me to dwell in? for I have not dwelt in a house since the day that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle. In all places wherein I have walked among all the children of Israel, spoke I a word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to feed My people Israel, saying: Why have ye not built Me a house of cedar? Now therefore thus shalt thou say unto My servant David: Thus saith the of hosts: I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, that thou shouldest be prince over My people, over Israel. And I have