The Ark Brought to Jerusalem(A)

15 David built houses for himself in the City of David; and he prepared a place for the ark of God, (B)and pitched a tent for it. Then David said, “No one may carry the (C)ark of God but the Levites, for (D)the Lord has chosen them to carry the ark of God and to minister before Him forever.” And David (E)gathered all Israel together at Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the Lord to its place, which he had prepared for it. Then David assembled the children of Aaron and the Levites: of the sons of Kohath, Uriel the chief, and one hundred and twenty of his [a]brethren; of the sons of Merari, Asaiah the chief, and two hundred and twenty of his brethren; of the sons of Gershom, Joel the chief, and one hundred and thirty of his brethren; of the sons of (F)Elizaphan, Shemaiah the chief, and two hundred of his brethren; of the sons of (G)Hebron, Eliel the chief, and eighty of his brethren; 10 of the sons of Uzziel, Amminadab the chief, and one hundred and twelve of his brethren.

11 And David called for (H)Zadok and (I)Abiathar the priests, and for the Levites: for Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab. 12 He said to them, “You are the heads of the fathers’ houses of the Levites; [b]sanctify yourselves, you and your brethren, that you may bring up the ark of the Lord God of Israel to the place I have prepared for it. 13 For (J)because you did not do it the first time, (K)the Lord our God broke out against us, because we did not consult Him [c]about the proper order.”

14 So the priests and the Levites [d]sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of the Lord God of Israel. 15 And the children of the Levites bore the ark of God on their shoulders, by its poles, as (L)Moses had commanded according to the word of the Lord.

16 Then David spoke to the leaders of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be the singers accompanied by instruments of music, stringed instruments, harps, and cymbals, by raising the voice with resounding joy. 17 So the Levites appointed (M)Heman the son of Joel; and of his brethren, (N)Asaph the son of Berechiah; and of their brethren, the sons of Merari, (O)Ethan the son of Kushaiah; 18 and with them their brethren of the second rank: Zechariah, [e]Ben, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Elipheleh, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, and Jeiel, the gatekeepers; 19 the singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, were to sound the cymbals of bronze; 20 Zechariah, [f]Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah, with strings according to (P)Alamoth; 21 Mattithiah, Elipheleh, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah, to direct with harps on the (Q)Sheminith; 22 Chenaniah, leader of the Levites, was instructor in charge of the music, because he was skillful; 23 Berechiah and Elkanah were doorkeepers for the ark; 24 Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer, the priests, (R)were to blow the trumpets before the ark of God; and (S)Obed-Edom and Jehiah, doorkeepers for the ark.

25 So (T)David, the elders of Israel, and the captains over thousands went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord from the house of Obed-Edom with joy. 26 And so it was, when God helped the Levites who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord, that they offered seven bulls and seven rams. 27 David was clothed with a robe of fine (U)linen, as were all the Levites who bore the ark, the singers, and Chenaniah the music master with the singers. David also wore a linen ephod. 28 (V)Thus all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the Lord with shouting and with the sound of the horn, with trumpets and with cymbals, making music with stringed instruments and harps.

29 And it happened, (W)as the ark of the covenant of the Lord came to the City of David, that Michal, Saul’s daughter, looked through a window and saw King David whirling and playing music; and she despised him in her heart.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 15:5 kinsmen
  2. 1 Chronicles 15:12 consecrate
  3. 1 Chronicles 15:13 regarding the ordinance
  4. 1 Chronicles 15:14 consecrated
  5. 1 Chronicles 15:18 So with MT, Vg.; LXX omits Ben
  6. 1 Chronicles 15:20 Jaaziel, v. 18

The Ark Brought to Jerusalem

15 David[a] built houses for himself in the city of David. And he prepared a place for the ark of God and (A)pitched a tent for it. Then David said that no one but the Levites may carry (B)the ark of God, for the Lord had chosen them to carry the ark of the Lord and to minister to him forever. (C)And David assembled all Israel at Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the Lord (D)to its place, which he had prepared for it. And David gathered together the sons of Aaron and (E)the Levites: of the sons of Kohath, Uriel the chief, with 120 of his brothers; of the sons of Merari, Asaiah the chief, with 220 of his brothers; of the sons of Gershom, Joel the chief, with 130 of his brothers; of the sons of Elizaphan, Shemaiah the chief, with 200 of his brothers; of the sons of Hebron, Eliel the chief, with 80 of his brothers; 10 of the sons of Uzziel, Amminadab the chief, with 112 of his brothers. 11 Then David summoned the priests (F)Zadok and (G)Abiathar, and the Levites Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab, 12 and said to them, “You are the heads of the fathers' houses of the Levites. (H)Consecrate yourselves, you and your brothers, so that you may bring up the ark of the Lord, the God of Israel, (I)to the place that I have prepared for it. 13 (J)Because you did not carry it the first time, the Lord our God broke out against us, because we did not seek him according to the rule.” 14 So the priests and the Levites consecrated themselves to bring up the ark of the Lord, the God of Israel. 15 And the Levites carried the ark of God on their shoulders (K)with the poles, (L)as Moses had commanded according to the word of the Lord.

16 David also commanded the chiefs of the Levites to appoint their brothers as the singers who should play loudly on (M)musical instruments, on harps and lyres and cymbals, to raise sounds of joy. 17 So the Levites appointed (N)Heman the son of Joel; and of his brothers (O)Asaph the son of Berechiah; and of the sons of Merari, their brothers, (P)Ethan the son of Kushaiah; 18 and with them their brothers of the second order, Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, and Mikneiah, and the gatekeepers Obed-edom and Jeiel. 19 The singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, were to sound bronze cymbals; 20 Zechariah, (Q)Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah were to play harps according to (R)Alamoth; 21 but Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, (S)Obed-edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah were to lead with lyres according to (T)the Sheminith. 22 Chenaniah, leader of the Levites in music, should direct the music, for he understood it. 23 Berechiah and Elkanah were to be gatekeepers for the ark. 24 Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer, the priests, should (U)blow the trumpets before the ark of God. (V)Obed-edom and Jehiah were to be gatekeepers for the ark.

25 (W)So David and the elders of Israel and the commanders of thousands went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord from the house of (X)Obed-edom with rejoicing. 26 And because God helped the Levites who were carrying the ark of the covenant of the Lord, they sacrificed (Y)seven bulls and seven rams. 27 David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, as also were all the Levites who were carrying the ark, and the singers and Chenaniah the leader of the music of the singers. And David wore a linen ephod. 28 So all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the Lord with shouting, to the sound of the horn, (Z)trumpets, and cymbals, and made loud music on (AA)harps and lyres.

29 And as the ark of the covenant of the Lord came to the city of David, Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David dancing and celebrating, and she despised him in her heart.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 15:1 Hebrew He

15 And Dovid made him batim (buildings) in Ir Dovid, and prepared a makom for Aron HaElohim, and pitched for it an ohel.

Then Dovid said, None may carry Aron HaElohim but the Levi’im; for them hath Hashem bachar (chosen) to carry the Aron HaElohim, and to minister unto Him ad olam.

And Dovid assembled kol Yisroel together at Yerushalayim, to bring up Aron Hashem unto his makom (place, home) which he had prepared for it.

And Dovid assembled the Bnei Aharon, and the Levi’im;

Of the Bnei Kehat; Uriel the sar, and his brethren a 120;

Of the Bnei Merari; Asayah the sar, and his brethren 220;

Of the Bnei Gershom; Yoel the sar and his brethren 130;

Of the Bnei Elitzaphan; Shema’yah the sar, and his brethren 200;

Of the Bnei Chevron; Eliel the sar, and his brethren 80;

10 Of the Bnei Uzziel; Amminadav the sar, and his brethren 112.

11 And Dovid summoned Tzadok and Evyatar (Abiathar) the Kohanim, as well as the Levi’im, for Uriel, Asayah, and Yoel, Shema’yah, and Eliel, and Amminadav,

12 And said unto them, Ye are the rashei ha’avot of the Levi’im; set yourselves apart as kodesh, both ye and your brethren, that ye may bring up Aron Hashem Elohei Yisroel unto the place that I have prepared for it.

13 For because ye did it not at the first, Hashem Eloheinu broke out upon us, for that we inquired of Him not according to the mishpat (due order, ordinance).

14 So the Kohanim and the Levi’im set themselves apart as kodesh to bring up Aron Hashem Elohei Yisroel.

15 And the Bnei HaLevi’im bore the Aron HaElohim upon their shoulders with the motot (poles) thereon, as Moshe commanded according to the Devar Hashem.

16 And Dovid spoke to the Sarei HaLevi’im to appoint their brethren to be the meshorerim (singers) with instruments of music, nevalim (lyres) and kinnorot (harps) and cymbals, sounding, by lifting up the voice with simchah.

17 So the Levi’im appointed Heman Ben Yoel; and of his brethren, Asaph Ben Berechyahu; and of the Bnei Merari their brethren, Eitan Ben Kushayahu;

18 And with them their brethren of the next rank, Zecharyah, Ben, and Ya’aziel, and Shemiramot, and Yechiel, and Unni, Eliav, and Benayahu, and Ma’aseiyahu, and Mattityahu, and Eliph’lehu, and Mikneyahu, and Oved Edom, and Ye’i’el, the sho’arim (gatekeepers).

19 So the meshorerim (singers), Heman, Asaph, and Eitan, sounded the cymbals of nechoshet;

20 And Zecharyah, and Aziel, and Shemiramot, and Yechiel, and Unni, and Eliav, and Ma’aseiyahu, and Benayahu, with nevalim (lyres) al-alamot (after the manner of virgins, i.e., in the treble—see Ps 46:1);

21 And Mattityahu, and Eliph’lehu, and Mikneyahu, and Oved Edom, and Ye’i’el, and Azazyahu, with kinnorot (harps) al-HaSheminit to direct.

22 And Kenanyahu, sar HaLevi’im, was for singing; he directed the song, because of his understanding.

23 And Berechyah and Elkanah were shoarim (doorkeepers) for the Aron.

24 And Shevanyahu, and Yehoshaphat, and Netanel, and Amasai, and Zecharyah, and Benayahu, and Eliezer, the Kohanim, did blow the trumpets before the Aron HaElohim; and Oved Edom and Yechiyah were shoarim (doorkeepers) for the Aron.

25 So Dovid, and the Ziknei Yisroel, and the sarim over alafim, went to bring up Aron Brit Hashem out of the Bais Oved Edom with simchah.

26 And it came to pass, when HaElohim helped the Levi’im that bore the Aron Brit Hashem, that they offered in sacrifice shivah bulls and shivah rams.

27 And Dovid was clothed with a me’il butz (fine linen robe), and all the Levi’im that bore the Aron, and the meshorerim (singers); and Kenanyah the master of the song with the meshorerim; Dovid also had upon him a linen ephod [see Psalm 110:4].

28 Thus kol Yisroel brought up the Aron Brit Hashem with shouting, and with sound of the shofar, and with trumpets, and with cymbals, sounding nevalim (lyres) and kinnorot (harps).

29 And it came to pass, as the Aron Brit Hashem came to Ir Dovid, that Michal Bat Sha’ul, looking out at the chalon, saw Dovid HaMelech dancing and whirling. And she despised him in her lev.