1 Chronicles 15

Preparing to Move the Ark

(2 Samuel 6:12–15)

1David constructedH6213 buildingsH1004 for himself in the CityH5892 of DavidH1732, and he preparedH3559 a placeH4725 for the arkH727 of GodH430 and pitchedH5186 a tentH168 for it. 2ThenH227 DavidH1732 saidH559, “NoH3808 one butH3588H518 the LevitesH3881 may carryH5375 the arkH727 of GodH430, becauseH3588 the LORDH3068 has chosen themH977 to carryH5375 the arkH727 of the LORDH3068 and to ministerH8334 before HimH5704 foreverH5769.”

3And DavidH1732 assembledH6950 allH3605 IsraelH3478 inH413 JerusalemH3389 to bring upH5927 the arkH727 of the LORDH3068 toH413 the placeH4725 he had preparedH3559 for it. 4Then heH1732 gathered togetherH622 the descendantsH1121 of AaronH175 and the LevitesH3881:

5From the KohathitesH1121H6955, UrielH222 the chiefH8269 and 120H3967H6242 of his relativesH251; 6from the MeraritesH1121H4847, AsaiahH6222 the chiefH8269 and 220H3967H6242 of his relativesH251; 7from the GershomitesH1121H1648,1 JoelH3100 the chiefH8269 and 130H3967H7970 of his relativesH251; 8from the ElizaphanitesH1121H469, ShemaiahH8098 the chiefH8269 and 200H3967 of his relativesH251; 9from the HebronitesH1121H2275, ElielH447 the chiefH8269 and 80H8084 of his relativesH251; 10and from the UzzielitesH1121H5816, AmminadabH5992 the chiefH8269 and 112H3967H8147H6240 of his relativesH251.

11DavidH1732 summonedH7121 the priestsH3548 ZadokH6659 and AbiatharH54 and the LevitesH3881 UrielH222, AsaiahH6222, JoelH3100, ShemaiahH8098, ElielH447, and AmminadabH5992. 12And he saidH559 to them, “YouH859 are the headsH7218 of the LeviticalH3881 familiesH1. YouH859 and your relativesH251 must consecrate yourselvesH6942 so that you may bringH5927 the arkH727 of the LORDH3068, the GodH430 of IsraelH3478, toH413 the place I have preparedH3559 for it. 13It was becauseH3588 you LevitesH859 were not with usH3808 the first timeH4100 that the LORDH3068 our GodH430 burst forth in angerH6555 against us. ForH3588 we did notH3808 consult HimH1875 about the proper orderH4941.”

The Priests and Levites Carry the Ark

14So the priestsH3548 and LevitesH3881 consecrated themselvesH6942 to bring upH5927 the arkH727 of the LORDH3068, the GodH430 of IsraelH3478. 15And the LevitesH1121H3881 carriedH5375 the arkH727 of GodH430 on their shouldersH3802 with the polesH4133H5921, asH834 MosesH4872 had commandedH6680 in accordance with the wordH1697 of the LORDH3068.

16David alsoH1732 toldH559 the leadersH8269 of the LevitesH3881 to appointH5975 their relativesH251 as singersH7891 to lift upH7311 their voicesH6963 with joyH8057, accompanied by musicalH7892 instrumentsH3627—harpsH5035, lyresH3658, and cymbalsH4700H8085. 17So the LevitesH3881 appointedH5975 HemanH1968 sonH1121 of JoelH3100; fromH4480 his brothersH251, AsaphH623 sonH1121 of BerechiahH1296; fromH4480 their brothersH251 the MeraritesH1121H4847, EthanH387 sonH1121 of KushaiahH6984; 18and with themH5973 their brothersH251 next in rankH4932: ZechariahH2148,2 JaazielH3268, ShemiramothH8070, JehielH3171, UnniH6042, EliabH446, BenaiahH1141, MaaseiahH4641, MattithiahH4993, EliphelehuH466, MikneiahH4737, and the gatekeepersH7778 Obed-edomH5654 and JeielH3273.3

19The musiciansH7891 HemanH1968, AsaphH623, and EthanH387 were to soundH8085 the bronzeH5178 cymbalsH4700. 20ZechariahH2148, AzielH5815,4 ShemiramothH8070, JehielH3171, UnniH6042, EliabH446, MaaseiahH4641, and BenaiahH1141 were to play the harpsH5035 according toH5921 AlamothH5961.5 21And MattithiahH4993, EliphelehuH466, MikneiahH4737, Obed-edomH5654, JeielH3273, and AzaziahH5812 were to lead the musicH5329 with lyresH3658 according toH5921 SheminithH8067.6 22ChenaniahH3663 the headH8269 LeviteH3881 was the directorH3256 of the musicH4853 becauseH3588 heH1931 was highly skilledH995.

23BerechiahH1296 and ElkanahH511 were to be guardiansH77787 of the arkH727. 24ShebaniahH7645, JoshaphatH3146, NethanelH5417, AmasaiH6022, ZechariahH2148, BenaiahH1141, and EliezerH461—the priestsH3548—were to blowH2690 the trumpetsH2689 beforeH6440 the arkH727 of GodH430. Obed-edomH5654 and JehiahH3174 were also to be guardiansH7778 of the arkH727.

Moving the Ark to Jerusalem

25SoH1961 DavidH1732, the eldersH2205 of IsraelH3478, and the commandersH8269 of thousandsH505 wentH1980 with rejoicingH8057 to bringH5927 the arkH727 of the covenantH1285 of the LORDH3068 fromH4480 the houseH1004 of Obed-edomH5654. 26And because GodH430 helpedH5826H1961 the LevitesH3881 who were carryingH5375 the arkH727 of the covenantH1285 of the LORDH3068, they sacrificedH2076 sevenH7651 bullsH6499 and sevenH7651 ramsH352.

27Now DavidH1732 was dressedH3736 in a robeH4598 of fine linenH948, as were allH3605 the LevitesH3881 who were carryingH5375 the arkH727, as well as the singersH7891 and ChenaniahH3663, the directorH8269 of musicH4853 for the singersH7891H5921. DavidH1732 also wore a linenH906 ephodH646. 28So allH3605 IsraelH3478 brought upH5927 the arkH727 of the covenantH1285 of the LORDH3068 with shoutingH8643, with the soundingH6963 of rams’ hornsH7782 and trumpetsH2689, and with cymbalsH4700 and the musicH8085 of harpsH5035 and lyresH3658.

Michal’s Contempt for David

(2 Samuel 6:16)

29As the arkH727 of the covenantH1285 of the LORDH3068 wasH1961 enteringH935H5704 the CityH5892 of DavidH1732, Saul’sH7586 daughterH1323 MichalH4324 looked downH8259 fromH1157 a windowH2474 and sawH7200 KingH4428 DavidH1732 dancingH7540 and celebratingH7832, and she despisedH959 him in her heartH3820.