1 The men carrying the ark set it inside the tent David had put up for it. They presented burnt offerings and fellowship offerings in God’s presence.
2 When David had finished sacrificing burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord.
3 He also distributed to every person in Israel—both men and women—a loaf of bread, a date cake, and a raisin cake.
4 David appointed some Levites to serve in front of the Lord’s ark by offering prayers, thanks, and praise to the Lord God of Israel.
5 Asaph was the head; Zechariah was second, then Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed Edom, and Jeiel with harps and lyres. Asaph played the cymbals.
6 The priests Benaiah and Jahaziel played trumpets all the time in front of the ark of God’s promise.
7 For the first time David entrusted Asaph and his relatives with the task of singing songs of thanks to the Lord:
8 “Give thanks to the Lord.
9 Sing to him.
10 Brag about his holy name.
11 Search for the Lord and his strength.
12 Remember the miracles he performed,
13 you descendants of Israel, his servant,
14 “He is the Lord our God.
15 Remember his promise forever,
16 the promise that he made to Abraham,
17 He confirmed it as a law for Jacob,
18 by saying, ‘I will give you Canaan.
19 “While they were few in number,
20 they wandered from nation to nation
21 He didn’t permit anyone to oppress them.
22 ‘Do not touch my anointed ones
23 “Sing to the Lord, all the earth!
24 Tell people about his glory.
25 “The Lord is great!
26 because all the gods of the nations are idols.
27 Splendor and majesty are in his presence.
28 “Give to the Lord, you families of the nations.
29 Give to the Lord the glory his name deserves.
30 Tremble in his presence, all the earth!
31 Let the heavens rejoice and the earth be glad.
32 Let the sea and everything in it roar like thunder.
33 Then the trees in the forest will sing with joy
34 “Give thanks to the Lord because he is good,
35 Say, ‘Rescue us, O God our Savior.
36 Thanks be to the Lord God of Israel
37 David left Asaph and his relatives to serve continually in front of the ark of the Lord’s promise, as the daily work required.
38 David also left Obed Edom and 68 of his relatives ⌞to serve there⌟. Obed Edom (Jeduthun’s son) and Hosah were to be gatekeepers.
39 David left Zadok and his priestly relatives to serve in the Lord’s tent at the place of worship in Gibeon.
40 They were ordered to sacrifice burnt offerings to the Lord. This happened on the altar of burnt offerings continually, morning and evening, as written in the Lord’s Teachings that he gave Israel.
41 With Zadok and his relatives were Heman, Jeduthun, and the rest of the Levites who had been selected, chosen by name, to give thanks to the Lord⌞by singing,⌟ “His mercy endures forever.”
42 Also, Heman and Jeduthun played trumpets, cymbals, and the ⌞other⌟ musical instruments that accompany sacred songs. Jeduthun’s sons were stationed at the gate.
43 Then all the people went home. David went back to bless his family.