15 1 David prepareth an house for the Ark. 4 The number and order of the Levites. 16 The singers are chosen out among them. 25 They bring again the Ark with joy. 29 David dancing before it is despised of his wife Michal.
1 And David made him houses in the [a]city of David, and prepared a place for the Ark of God, and pitched for it a tent.
2 Then David said, (A)None ought to carry the Ark of God, but the Levites: for the Lord hath chosen them to bear the Ark of the Lord, and to minister unto him forever.
3 ¶ And David gathered all Israel together to Jerusalem to bring up the [b]Ark of the Lord unto his place, which he had ordained for it.
4 And David assembled the sons of Aaron, and the Levites.
5 Of the sons of Kohath, Uriel the chief, and his [c]brethren six score.
6 Of the sons of Merari, Asaiah the chief, and his brethren two hundred and twenty.
7 Of the sons of Gershom, Joel the chief, and his brethren an hundred and thirty.
8 Of the sons of [d]Elizaphan, Shemaiah the chief, and his brethren two hundred.
9 Of the sons of [e]Hebron, Eliel the chief, and his brethren fourscore.
10 Of the sons of Uzziel, Amminadab the chief, and his brethren an hundred and twelve.
11 ¶ And David called Zadok and Abiathar the Priests, and of the Levites, Uriel, Asaiah and Joel, Shemaiah and Eliel, and Amminadab.
12 And he said unto them, Ye are the chief fathers of the Levites: [f]sanctify yourselves, and your brethren, and bring up the Ark of the Lord God of Israel unto the place that I have prepared for it.
13 For (B)because ye were not there at the first, the Lord our God made a breach among us: for we sought him not after due [g]order.
14 So the Priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the Ark of the Lord God of Israel.
15 ¶ And the sons of the Levites bare the Ark of God upon their shoulders with the bars as Moses had commanded, (C)according to the word of the Lord,
16 And David spake to the chief of the Levites, that they should appoint certain of their brethren to sing with [h]instruments of music, with viols and harps, and cymbals, that they might make a sound, and lift up their voice with joy.
17 So the Levites appointed Heman the son of Joel, and of his brethren Asaph the son of Berechiah, and of the sons of Merari their brethren, Ethan the son of Kushaiah,
18 And with them their brethren in the [i]second degree, Zechariah, Ben, and Jaaziel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Unni, Eliab, and Benaiah, and Maaseiah, and Mattithiah, and Elipheleh, and Mikneiah, and Obed-Edom, and Jeiel the porters.
19 So Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, were singers to make a sound with cymbals of brass,
20 And Zechariah, and Aziel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Unni, and Eliab, and Maaseiah, and Benaiah with viols on [j]Alamoth,
21 And Mattithiah, and Elipheleh, and Mikneiah, and Obed-Edom, and Jeiel, and Azaziah, with harps upon [k]Sheminith Jenazzeah.
22 But Chenaniah the chief of the Levites had the [l]charge bearing the burden in the charge, for he was able to instruct.
23 And Berechiah and Elkanah were porters for the Ark.
24 And Shebaniah, and Joshaphat and Nethanel and Amasai, and Zechariah, and Benaiah, and Eliezer the Priests did blow with trumpets before the Ark of God, and Obed-Edom and Jehiah were porters [m]for the Ark.
25 (D)So David and the Elders of Israel and the captains of thousands went to bring up the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord from the house of Obed-Edom with joy.
26 And because that God [n]helped the Levites that bare the Ark of the covenant of the Lord, they offered [o]seven bullocks and seven rams.
27 And David had on him a linen garment, as all the Levites that bare the Ark, and the singers, and Chenaniah that had the chief charge of the singers: and upon David was a linen [p]Ephod.
28 Thus all Israel brought up the Ark of the Lord’s covenant with shouting, and sound of cornet, and with trumpets, and with cymbals, making a sound with viols and with harps.
29 And when the Ark of the [q]covenant of the Lord came into the city of David, Michal the daughter of Saul looked out at a window, and saw king David dancing and playing, and (E)she despised him in her heart.
Footnotes
- 1 Chronicles 15:1 That was in the place of the city, called Zion, 2 Sam. 5:7, 9.
- 1 Chronicles 15:3 From the house of Obed-Edom, 2 Sam. 6:10, 12.
- 1 Chronicles 15:5 Or, kinsmen.
- 1 Chronicles 15:8 Who was the son of Uzziel, the fourth son of Kohath, Exod. 6:18, 22; Num. 3:30.
- 1 Chronicles 15:9 The third son of Kohath, Exod. 6:18.
- 1 Chronicles 15:12 Prepare yourselves and be pure, abstain from all things whereby ye might be polluted, and so not able to come to the Tabernacle.
- 1 Chronicles 15:13 According as he hath appointed in the law.
- 1 Chronicles 15:16 These instruments and other ceremonies, which they observed, were instructions of their infancy, which continued to the coming of Christ.
- 1 Chronicles 15:18 Which were inferior in dignity.
- 1 Chronicles 15:20 This was an instrument of music, or a certain tune, whereunto they accustomed to sing Psalms.
- 1 Chronicles 15:21 Which was the eighth tune, over the which he that was most excellent had charge.
- 1 Chronicles 15:22 To wit, to appoint Psalms, and songs to them that sung.
- 1 Chronicles 15:24 With Berechiah and Elkanah, verse 23.
- 1 Chronicles 15:26 That is, gave them strength to execute their office.
- 1 Chronicles 15:26 Besides the bullock and the fat beast which David offered at every sixth pace, 2 Sam. 6:13.
- 1 Chronicles 15:27 Read 2 Sam. 6:14.
- 1 Chronicles 15:29 It was so called because it put the Israelites in remembrance of the Lord’s covenant made with them.