1 Chronicles 15
New King James Version
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. 2 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.” 3 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. 4 Then David assembled the children of Aaron and the Levites: 5 of the sons of Kohath, Uriel the chief, and one hundred and twenty of his [a]brethren; 6 of the sons of Merari, Asaiah the chief, and two hundred and twenty of his brethren; 7 of the sons of Gershom, Joel the chief, and one hundred and thirty of his brethren; 8 of the sons of (F)Elizaphan, Shemaiah the chief, and two hundred of his brethren; 9 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 Chronicles 15:5 kinsmen
- 1 Chronicles 15:12 consecrate
- 1 Chronicles 15:13 regarding the ordinance
- 1 Chronicles 15:14 consecrated
- 1 Chronicles 15:18 So with MT, Vg.; LXX omits Ben
- 1 Chronicles 15:20 Jaaziel, v. 18
1 Chronicles 15
English Standard Version
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. 2 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. 3 (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. 4 And David gathered together the sons of Aaron and (E)the Levites: 5 of the sons of Kohath, Uriel the chief, with 120 of his brothers; 6 of the sons of Merari, Asaiah the chief, with 220 of his brothers; 7 of the sons of Gershom, Joel the chief, with 130 of his brothers; 8 of the sons of Elizaphan, Shemaiah the chief, with 200 of his brothers; 9 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 Chronicles 15:1 Hebrew He
1 Chronicles 15
New American Standard Bible
Plans to Move the Ark to Jerusalem
15 Now David 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. 2 Then David said, “(B)No one is to carry the ark of God except the Levites; for the Lord chose them to carry the ark of the Lord and to serve Him forever.” 3 And (C)David assembled all Israel at Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the Lord (D)to its place which he had prepared for it. 4 David gathered together the sons of Aaron and (E)the Levites: 5 of the sons of Kohath, Uriel the chief, and 120 of his relatives; 6 of the sons of Merari, Asaiah the chief, and 220 of his relatives; 7 of the sons of Gershom, Joel the chief, and 130 of his relatives; 8 of the sons of Elizaphan, Shemaiah the chief, and two hundred of his relatives; 9 of the sons of Hebron, Eliel the chief, and eighty of his relatives; 10 of the sons of Uzziel, Amminadab the chief, and 112 of his relatives.
11 Then David called for the priests (F)Zadok and (G)Abiathar, and for the Levites, for Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab; 12 and he said to them, “You are the heads of the fathers’ households of the Levites; (H)consecrate yourselves, you and your relatives, so that you may bring up the ark of the Lord God of Israel (I)to the place that I have prepared for it. 13 (J)Because you did not carry it at the first, the Lord our God made an outburst against us, since we did not seek Him according to the ordinance.” 14 (K)So the priests and the Levites consecrated themselves to bring up the ark of the Lord God of Israel. 15 The sons of (L)the Levites carried the ark of God on their shoulders with the poles on them, just as Moses had commanded in accordance with the word of the Lord.
16 Then David spoke to the chiefs of the Levites (M)to appoint their relatives as the singers, with musical instruments, harps, lyres, and cymbals, playing to raise sounds of joy. 17 So (N)the Levites appointed Heman the son of Joel, and from his relatives, Asaph the son of Berechiah; and from the sons of Merari their relatives, Ethan the son of Kushaiah, 18 and with them their relatives of the second rank, Zechariah, [a]Ben, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-edom, and Jeiel, the gatekeepers. 19 So the singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, were appointed to sound aloud cymbals of bronze; 20 and Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah, with harps tuned to [b](O)alamoth; 21 and Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah, to lead with [c]lyres tuned to (P)the sheminith. 22 Chenaniah, chief of the Levites, was in charge of the singing; he gave instruction in singing because he was skillful. 23 Berechiah and Elkanah were gatekeepers for the ark. 24 Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer, the priests, (Q)blew the trumpets before the ark of God. Obed-edom and Jehiah also were gatekeepers for the ark.
25 (R)So it was David, with the elders of Israel and the captains of thousands, who went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord from (S)the house of Obed-edom with joy. 26 Because God was helping the Levites who were carrying the ark of the covenant of the Lord, they sacrificed (T)seven bulls and seven rams. 27 Now David was clothed with a robe of fine linen with all the Levites who were carrying the ark, and the singers, and Chenaniah the leader of the singing with the singers. (U)David also wore an ephod of linen. 28 So all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the Lord with shouting, and with the sound of the horn, with trumpets, with loud-sounding cymbals, with harps, and lyres.
29 When the ark of the covenant of the Lord came to the city of David, (V)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 Chronicles 15:18 Omitted in LXX and many mss
- 1 Chronicles 15:20 Or perhaps the pitch of young girls
- 1 Chronicles 15:21 Or octave
1 Crónicas 15
Nueva Traducción Viviente
Preparativos para trasladar el arca
15 David construyó varios edificios para sí en la Ciudad de David. También preparó un lugar para el arca de Dios y levantó una carpa especial para ella. 2 Después ordenó: «Nadie, excepto los levitas, podrá llevar el arca de Dios. El Señor los ha elegido a ellos para que carguen el arca del Señor y para que le sirvan para siempre».
3 Luego David convocó a todo Israel a Jerusalén para trasladar el arca del Señor al lugar que él le había preparado. 4 Este es el número de los descendientes de Aarón (los sacerdotes) y de los levitas que fueron convocados:
5 del clan de Coat, 120, con Uriel como su jefe;
6 del clan de Merari, 220, con Asaías como su jefe;
7 del clan de Gersón,[a] 130, con Joel como su jefe;
8 de los descendientes de Elizafán, 200, con Semaías como su jefe;
9 de los descendientes de Hebrón, 80, con Eliel como su jefe;
10 de los descendientes de Uziel, 112, con Aminadab como su jefe.
11 Luego David mandó llamar a los sacerdotes, Sadoc y Abiatar, y a los siguientes jefes levitas: Uriel, Asaías, Joel, Semaías, Eliel y Aminadab. 12 Les dijo: «Ustedes son los jefes de las familias levitas. Deben purificarse ustedes mismos y a todos los demás levitas, a fin de que puedan traer el arca del Señor, Dios de Israel, al lugar que le he preparado. 13 Como no fueron ustedes, los levitas, los que llevaban el arca la primera vez, el enojo del Señor nuestro Dios se encendió contra nosotros. No habíamos consultado a Dios acerca de cómo trasladarla de la manera apropiada». 14 Así que los sacerdotes y los levitas se purificaron para poder trasladar el arca del Señor, Dios de Israel, a Jerusalén. 15 Entonces los levitas llevaron el arca de Dios sobre los hombros con las varas para transportarla, tal como el Señor le había indicado a Moisés.
16 David también ordenó a los jefes levitas que nombraran un coro de entre los levitas formado por cantores y músicos, para entonar alegres canciones al son de arpas, liras y címbalos. 17 De modo que los levitas nombraron a Hemán, hijo de Joel, junto con sus hermanos levitas: Asaf, hijo de Berequías, y Etán, hijo de Cusaías, del clan de Merari. 18 Los siguientes hombres fueron elegidos como sus ayudantes: Zacarías, Jaaziel,[b] Semiramot, Jehiel, Uni, Eliab, Benaía, Maaseías, Matatías, Elifelehu, Micnías y los porteros Obed-edom y Jeiel.
19 Los músicos Hemán, Asaf y Etán fueron elegidos para hacer resonar los címbalos de bronce. 20 Zacarías, Aziel, Semiramot, Jehiel, Uni, Eliab, Maaseías y Benaía fueron elegidos para tocar las arpas.[c] 21 Matatías, Elifelehu, Micnías, Obed-edom, Jeiel y Azazías fueron elegidos para tocar las liras.[d] 22 Quenanías, el jefe de los levitas, fue seleccionado por su habilidad para dirigir el coro.
23 Berequías y Elcana fueron elegidos para vigilar[e] el arca. 24 Sebanías, Josafat, Natanael, Amasai, Zacarías, Benaía y Eliezer—todos sacerdotes—fueron elegidos para tocar las trompetas cuando marchaban delante del arca de Dios. Obed-edom y Jehías también fueron elegidos para vigilar el arca.
Traslado del arca a Jerusalén
25 Luego David y los ancianos de Israel junto con los generales del ejército[f] fueron a la casa de Obed-edom para trasladar el arca del pacto del Señor a Jerusalén con gran celebración. 26 Como era evidente que Dios ayudaba a los levitas mientras llevaban el arca del pacto del Señor, sacrificaron siete toros y siete carneros.
27 David estaba vestido con un manto de lino fino, al igual que todos los levitas que cargaban el arca y también los cantores y Quenanías, el director del coro. David también llevaba puesta una vestidura sacerdotal.[g] 28 Así que todo Israel trasladó el arca del pacto del Señor entre gritos de alegría, toques de cuernos de carneros y trompetas, el estrépito de címbalos, y la música de arpas y liras.
29 Pero cuando el arca del pacto del Señor entraba a la Ciudad de David, Mical, hija de Saúl, se asomó por la ventana. Cuando vio que el rey David saltaba y reía de alegría, se llenó de desprecio hacia él.
Footnotes
- 15:7 En hebreo Gersom, una variante de Gersón.
- 15:18 Así aparece en varios manuscritos hebreos y en la versión griega (ver también listas paralelas en 15:20; 16:5); el texto masorético dice Zacarías ben Jaaziel.
- 15:20 El texto hebreo incluye según alamot, probablemente indica un término musical. El significado del hebreo es incierto.
- 15:21 El texto hebreo incluye según el seminit, probablemente indica un término musical. El significado del hebreo es incierto.
- 15:23 En hebreo elegidos como porteros para; también en 15:24.
- 15:25 En hebreo los comandantes de miles.
- 15:27 En hebreo un efod de lino.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
La Santa Biblia, Nueva Traducción Viviente, © Tyndale House Foundation, 2010. Todos los derechos reservados.


