II Samuel 6.1-7.17
David again assembled the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand.
And David rose, and went with all the people that were with him, from Baleyehuda, to bring up from there God’s ark, which it is called by the name of the Lord of hosts who sits enthroned between the cherubim. They placed God’s ark upon a new cart, and brought it out of Abinadav, which was on the hill. Uzzah and Achio, the sons of Abinadav, drove the new cart.
They moved it from the house of Abinadav, which was on the hill, with God’s ark; and Achio went before the ark. And David and all of the house of Israel played before God with all kinds of instruments made of cypress-wood, with harps, and psalteries, with trimbrels, with sistra, and with cymbals.
And when they came to Nakhon’s threshing floor, Uzzah reached out towards God’s ark, and caught hold of it; because the oxen had stumbled.
Then God’s anger burned against Uzzah; and God smote him for his error, and he died there by the God’s ark. And David was displeased at God’s outbreak against Uzzah; and that place is called Peretzuzzah to this day.
David was afraid of God that day, and he said: “How can God’s ark come to me?” So David would not take God’s ark into the city of David; but David carried it aside into the house of Oved Edom the Gittite. God’s ark remained in the house of Oved Edom the Gittite three months; and God blessed Oved Edom, and all his household.
And it was reported to King David: “God has blessed the house of Oved Edom, and all he has, because of God’s ark.” So David went with joy and brought up God’s ark from the house of Oved Edom into the city of David. And when those who were carrying God’s ark had gone six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fatling. And David danced before God with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up God’s ark with shouting, and the sound of the horn.
But as God’s ark came into the city of David, Saul’s daughter Michal looked through the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before God; and she despised him in her heart.
They brought in God’s ark, and set it in place, inside the tent David had pitched for it; and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before God. And when David had finished offering the burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts. He distributed among all the people, among the whole multitude of Israel, both men and women, to everyone a cake of bread, a cake made in a pan, a sweet cake. Then the people departed, everyone to his house.
[Sephardim conclude here]
Then David returned to bless his household. Saul’s daughter, Michal, came to meet David and said: “How did the king of Israel get honor today, by uncovering himself today in the eyes of his servants’ handmaids, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovers himself.”
David said to Michal: “It was before God who chose me above your father, and above all his house, to appoint me prince over God’s people, over Israel, before God I will make merry, I will be even more vile than this, and will base it in my own sight; but with the handmaids of whom you spoke, with them I get honor.”
And Saul’s daughter Michal had no children to the day of her death.
Now when the king dwelt in his house, and God had given him rest from all his enemies round about. The king said to Nathan the prophet: “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but God’s ark dwells within tent curtains.”
Nathan said to the king: “Go, do what is in your heart, for God is with you.”
But that night God’s word came to Nathan saying: Go tell My servant David: “Thus says God: Shall you build me a house to dwell in? I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the children of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have journeyed in a tent and in a Tabernacle. In all places where I have journeyed with the children of Israel, did I speak a word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to feed My people Israel saying: Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?”
Now therefore give this message to My servant David: “Thus says the Lord of hosts: I took you from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be a prince over My people, over Israel. I have been with you wherever you went, and have eliminated all your enemies from before you. I will make you a great name, like the name of the great ones who are in the earth. I will appoint a place for My people Israel, and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place, and no longer be troubled. And all the children of wickedness will no longer afflict them, as at the beginning. From that day that I appointed judges over My people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, God tells you that God will make you a house.
When your days are fulfilled, and you sleep with your fathers, I will raise up your seed after you, who will issue from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. He will build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be as a father to him, and he shall be a son to Me. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men. But I will not take My mercy from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I removed before you. And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you; your throne will be established forever.”
According to all these words and all this vision, Nathan spoke to David.