DonateLOG IN(0)

Casual English Bible

By Stephen M. Miller

Home » Resources » David’s 2 holy tents

David’s 2 holy tents

Illustrated map of David's two holy tents, one in Gibeon and another in Jerusalem with the Ark of the Covenant. For The Casual English Bible.

David’s 2 holy tents

King David’s 2 holy tents

One in Gibeon, another in Jerusalem

King David maintained two holy tents instead of just the one inherited from the time of Moses, centuries earlier. Israel sacrificed to God at the Tabernacle, a tent worship center and altar at Gibeon, on the outskirts of Jerusalem. But David raised another one for Israel's most sacred relic, a gold-plated chest that held the Ten Commandments on stone. It's best known as the Ark of the Covenant, meaning the Box of the Contract. The 10 laws inside represent the core of the laws and rituals that Bible writers say came from God—laws Israel promised to obey, in exchange for  God's protection and gift of prosperity and blessing.

The 10 Commandments come to Jerusalem

"So David took Israel’s leaders, including his military commanders, to the house of Obed-edom. That’s where the people of Israel decided to keep the Box of God that held the Ten Commandments. God gave the Levites the energy to carry the heavy chest from Oded-edom’s house to Jerusalem. To thank him, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven male sheep. All the Levites dressed in fine linen. That included the men carrying the chest, Chenaniah the song leader, and the vocalists. David did, too. He added an ephod apron. 

Jerusalem cheers 

A happy crowd of Israelites escorted the sacred chest of the LORD, cheering to the sound of thundering ram’s horn trumpets, cymbals, and loud music accompanied by harps and lyres. As the Box of the LORD reached the City of David, Saul’s daughter Michal looked out of a window and saw her husband David jumping and dancing. She despised him.  (1 Chronicles 15:25-29)

David dances in his underwear

"David...brought the Box from Obed-edom’s house to the City of David. It was a happy parade. But it was slow. After every six steps the people took as they carried the Box, David made them stop so he could sacrifice an ox or a calf. During the walk, David danced with all his enthusiasm, wearing only a linen loincloth. David and the others joyfully accompanied the Box of God, cheering and blowing ram’s horns to celebrate.

Michal disgusted with David

When the Box of God reached the city, Saul’s daughter Michal looked out the palace window and saw David. He was jumping and dancing and whirling as he celebrated what the LORD was doing. But she despised David. David put the Box in a tent he set up as a place of worship. Then he offered sacrifices: burnt offerings and peace offerings" (2 Samuel 6:12-17, Casual English Bible).

Where to find Bible maps

The Casual English Bible® has more than 900 Bible maps, many in 3D style. You can search for maps by place name, such as "Sea of Galilee."

Dedicated Bible map search engine

But you can also search for maps by Bible book, such as searching for all the maps in the book of Joshua. In addition, you can search by country, region, or era on a timeline, such as when Israel had kings or when Jesus was on earth. Here's a link to the dedicated Map Search Engine.  

For more Bible features

 
Get a larger copy of this map and a license to use it in your presentation, book or website.