David Prepares a Place and Gathers the Levites
Study note
Earlier, David had tried to move the ark of God on a cart, but a man named Uzzah died when he touched it. David learned that only the Levites were supposed to carry the ark on poles, as Moses had commanded. Now David set up a tent in Jerusalem for the ark and gathered the Levite families to do the job properly. The Levites were the tribe of Israel set apart to serve God in worship. Six family groups answered David's call, totaling over 860 men.
1 David built homes for himself in the City of David. He also prepared a special place for the ark of God and put up a tent for it. And David made him houses in the city of David, and prepared a place for the ark of God, and pitched for it a tent.
2 Then David said, 'Only the Levites may carry the ark of God. The Lord chose them for this job — to carry the ark and to serve him forever.' Then David said, None ought to carry the ark of God but the Levites: for them hath the LORD chosen to carry the ark of God, and to minister unto him for ever.
3 David gathered everyone in Israel to Jerusalem. He wanted to bring the ark of the Lord to the place he had set up for it. And David gathered all Israel together to Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the LORD unto his place, which he had prepared for it.
4 David called together Aaron's descendants and the Levites. And David assembled the children of Aaron, and the Levites:
5 From Kohath's family: Uriel was the leader, along with 120 of his relatives. Of the sons of Kohath; Uriel the chief, and his brethren an hundred and twenty:
6 From Merari's family: Asaiah was the leader, with 220 of his relatives. Of the sons of Merari; Asaiah the chief, and his brethren two hundred and twenty:
7 From Gershom's family: Joel was the leader, along with 130 of his relatives. Of the sons of Gershom; Joel the chief, and his brethren an hundred and thirty:
8 From Elizaphan's family: Shemaiah was the leader, with 200 of his relatives. Of the sons of Elizaphan; Shemaiah the chief, and his brethren two hundred:
9 From Hebron's family: Eliel was the leader, along with 80 of his relatives. Of the sons of Hebron; Eliel the chief, and his brethren fourscore:
10 From Uzziel's family: Amminadab was the leader, along with 112 of his relatives. Of the sons of Uzziel; Amminadab the chief, and his brethren an hundred and twelve.
David Instructs the Levites to Prepare Themselves
Study note
David called the two chief priests, Zadok and Abiathar, along with the leaders of the Levite families. He told them to make themselves holy and ready for this sacred task. David reminded them that the first time they tried to move the ark, disaster struck because they did not follow God's instructions. The Levites then carried the ark on their shoulders using poles, exactly as Moses had commanded.
11 David sent for the priests Zadok and Abiathar, and for the Levite leaders Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab. And David called for Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and for the Levites, for Uriel, Asaiah, and Joel, Shemaiah, and Eliel, and Amminadab,
12 He told them, 'You are the heads of the Levite families. You and your relatives must go through the purification ceremony. Then you will be ready to bring up the ark of the Lord, the God of Israel, to the place I have prepared for it.' And said unto them, Ye are the chief of the fathers of the Levites: sanctify yourselves, both ye and your brethren, that ye may bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel unto the place that I have prepared for it.
13 'The first time we tried to move the ark, the Lord struck out against us because we did not handle it the proper way.' For because ye did it not at the first, the LORD our God made a breach upon us, for that we sought him not after the due order.
14 So the priests and Levites went through the cleansing steps to get ready to bring up the ark of the Lord, Israel's God. So the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel.
15 Then the Levites carried the ark of God on their shoulders using poles. They did this just as Moses had told them, based on the Lord's command. And the children of the Levites bare the ark of God upon their shoulders with the staves thereon, as Moses commanded according to the word of the LORD.
Musicians and Singers Are Appointed
Study note
David organized an entire orchestra and choir to lead the worship during the procession. The three main music leaders were Heman, Asaph, and Ethan. Different instruments were assigned to different groups: cymbals, harps, and lyres. Trumpets were played by the priests. Doorkeepers were also assigned to guard the ark during the journey. Music was a central part of Israelite worship, and this was one of the most elaborate musical events in Israel's history.
16 David told the Levite leaders to choose musicians from their relatives. They would play harps, lyres, and cymbals and sing loudly with joy. And David spake to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be the singers with instruments of musick, psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding, by lifting up the voice with joy.
17 The Levites chose Heman son of Joel and Asaph son of Berechiah. From the Merari clan, they chose Ethan son of Kushaiah. 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 A second group assisted them: Zechariah, Ben, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Elipheleh, Mikneiah, and the gatekeepers Obed-Edom and Jeiel. And with them their brethren of the 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 Heman, Asaph, and Ethan were assigned to play the bronze cymbals. So the singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, were appointed to sound with cymbals of brass;
20 Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah played harps set to a high pitch. And Zechariah, and Aziel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Unni, and Eliab, and Maaseiah, and Benaiah, with psalteries on Alamoth;
21 Mattithiah, Elipheleh, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah played lyres set to a low pitch to lead the music. And Mattithiah, and Elipheleh, and Mikneiah, and Obed-edom, and Jeiel, and Azaziah, with harps on the Sheminith to excel.
22 Chenaniah, the chief Levite, was the music director. He was given this role because of his great skill. And Chenaniah, chief of the Levites, was for song: he instructed about the song, because he was skilful.
23 Berechiah and Elkanah were doorkeepers for the ark. And Berechiah and Elkanah were doorkeepers for the ark.
24 The priests Shebaniah, Jehoshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer blew trumpets in front of the ark of God. Obed-Edom and Jehiah also served as doorkeepers for the ark. And Shebaniah, and Jehoshaphat, and Nethaneel, and Amasai, and Zechariah, and Benaiah, and Eliezer, the priests, did blow with the trumpets before the ark of God: and Obed-edom and Jehiah were doorkeepers for the ark.
The Ark Arrives in Jerusalem with Great Celebration
Study note
David, the elders, and the military commanders went to bring the ark from the house of Obed-edom where it had been kept. When God helped the Levites carry the ark safely, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams as an offering of thanks. David wore a fine linen robe and a priestly garment called an ephod as he danced before the Lord. The celebration included shouting, horns, trumpets, cymbals, harps, and lyres. However, Michal, David's wife and Saul's daughter, watched from a window and felt disgusted by David's enthusiastic dancing.
25 David, Israel's leaders, and the army chiefs went with great joy. They brought the ark of the Lord's deal from Obed-Edom's house. So David, and the elders of Israel, and the captains over thousands, went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the house of Obed-edom with joy.
26 God helped the Levites who were carrying the ark of the Lord's covenant. So they offered seven bulls and seven rams as sacrifices. And it came to pass, when God helped the Levites that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, that they offered seven bullocks and seven rams.
27 David wore a fine linen robe, as did all the Levites carrying the ark, the musicians, and Chenaniah the music director. David also wore a linen priestly garment called an ephod. And David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, and all the Levites that bare the ark, and the singers, and Chenaniah the master of the song with the singers: David also had upon him an ephod of linen.
28 All of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord's covenant with shouts of joy. They blew rams' horns, trumpets, and cymbals, and played harps and lyres. Thus all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the LORD with shouting, and with sound of the cornet, and with trumpets, and with cymbals, making a noise with psalteries and harps.
29 As the ark of the Lord's covenant entered the City of David, Saul's daughter Michal watched from a window. She saw King David leaping and dancing with joy, and she looked down on him with disgust. And it came to pass, as the ark of the covenant of the LORD came to the city of David, that Michal the daughter of Saul looking out at a window saw king David dancing and playing: and she despised him in her heart.