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numerous as before； and pitched their camp on the same spot of
ground as before。 The king of Israel therefore inquired of God
again concerning the event of the battle； and the high priest
prophesied to him； that he should keep his army in the groves；
called the Groves of Weeping； which were not far from the enemy's
camp； and that he should not move； nor begin to fight； till the
trees of the grove should be in motion without the wind's
blowing； but as soon as these trees moved； and the time foretold
to him by God was come； he should； without delay； go out to gain
what was an already prepared and evident victory； for the several
ranks of the enemy's army did not sustain him； but retreated at
the first onset； whom he closely followed； and slew them as he
went along； and pursued them to the city Gaza （which is the limit
of their country）： after this he spoiled their camp； in which he
found great riches； and he destroyed their gods。
2。 When this had proved the event of the battle； David thought it
proper； upon a consultation with the elders； and rulers； and
captains of thousands； to send for those that were in the flower
of their age out of all his countrymen； and out of the whole
land； and withal for the priests and the Levites； in order to
their going to Kirjathjearim； to bring up the ark of God out of
that city； and to carry it to Jerusalem； and there to keep it；
and offer before it those sacrifices and those other honors with
which God used to be well…pleased； for had they done thus in the
reign of Saul； they had not undergone any great misfortunes at
all。 So when the whole body of the people were come together； as
they had resolved to do； the king came to the ark； which the
priest brought out of the house of Aminadab； and laid it upon a
new cart； and permitted their brethren and their children to draw
it； together with the oxen。 Before it went the king； and the
whole multitude of the people with him； singing hymns to God； and
making use of all sorts of songs usual among them； with variety
of the sounds of musical instruments； and with dancing and
singing of psalms； as also with the sounds of trumpets and of
cymbals； and so brought the ark to Jerusalem。 But as they were
come to the threshing…floor of Chidon； a place so called； Uzzah
was slain by the anger of God； for as the oxen shook the ark； he
stretched out his hand； and would needs take hold of it。 Now；
because he was not a priest （7） and yet touched the ark； God
struck him dead。 Hereupon both the king and the people were
displeased at the death of Uzzah； and the place where he died is
still called the Breach of Uzzah unto this day。 So David was
afraid； and supposing that if he received the ark to himself into
the city； he might suffer in the like manner as Uzzah had
suffered； who； upon his bare putting out his hand to the ark；
died in the manner already mentioned； he did not receive it to
himself into the city； but he took it aside unto a certain place
belonging to a righteous man； whose name was Obededom； who was by
his family a Levite； and deposited the ark with him； and it
remained there three entire months。 This augmented the house of
Obededom； and conferred many blessings upon it。 And when the king
heard what had befallen Obededom； how he was become； of a poor
man in a low estate； exceeding happy； and the object of envy to
all those that saw or inquired after his house； he took courage；
and； hoping that he should meet with no misfortune thereby； he
transferred the ark to his own house； the priests carrying it；
while seven companies of singers； who were set in that order by
the king； went before it； and while he himself played upon the
harp； and joined in the music； insomuch； that when his wife
Michel； the daughter of Saul； who was our first king； saw him so
doing； she laughed at him。 But when they had brought in the ark；
they placed it under the tabernacle which David had pitched for
it； and he offered costly sacrifices and peace…offerings； and
treated the whole multitude； and dealt both to the women； and the
men； and the infants a loaf of bread and a cake； and another cake
baked in a pan； with the portion of the sacrifice。 So when he had
thus feasted the people； he sent them away； and he himself
returned to his own house。
3。 But when Michal his wife； the daughter of Saul； came and stood
by him； she wished him all other happiness； and entreated that
whatsoever he should further desire； to the utmost possibility；
might be given him by God； and that he might be favorable to him；
yet did she blame him； that so great a king as he was should
dance after an unseemly manner； and in his dancing； uncover
himself among the servants and the handmaidens。 But he replied；
that he was not ashamed to do what was acceptable to God； who had
preferred him before her father； and before all others； that he
would play frequently； and dance； without any regard to what the
handmaidens and she herself thought of it。 So this Michal； who
was David's wife； had no children； however； when she was
afterward married to him to whom Saul her father had given her；
（for at this time David had taken her away from him； and had her
himself；） she bare five children。 But concerning those matters I
shall discourse in a proper place。
4。 Now when the king saw that his affairs grew better almost
every day； by the will of God； he thought he should offend him；
if； while he himself continued in houses made of cedar； such as
were of a great height； and had the most curious works of
architecture in them； he should overlook the ark while it was
laid in a tabernacle； and was desirous to build a temple to God；
as Moses had predicted such a temple should be built。 （8） And
when he had discoursed with Nathan the prophet about these
things； and had been encouraged by him to do whatsoever he had a
mind to do； as having God with him； and his helper in all things；
he was thereupon the more ready to set about that building。 But
God appeared to Nathan that very night； and commanded him to say
to David； （9） that he took his purpose and his desires kindly；
since nobody had before now taken it into their head to build him
a temple； although upon his having such a notion he would not
permit him to build him that temple； because he had made many
wars； and was defiled with the slaughter of his enemies； that；
however； after his death； in his old age； and when he had lived a
long life； there should be a temple built by a son of his； who
should take the kingdom after him； and should be called Solomon；
whom he promised to provide for； as a father provides for his
son； by preserving the kingdom for his son's posterity； and
delivering it to them； but that he would still punish him； if he
sinned； with diseases and barrenness of land。 When David
understood this from the prophet； and was overjoyful at this
knowledge of the sure continuance of the dominion to his
posterity； and that his house should be splendid； and very
famous； he came to the ark； and fell down on his face； and began
to adore God； and to return thanks to him for all his benefits；
as well for those that he had already bestowed upon him in
raising him from a low st