1 Chronicles 15 :: New Living Translation (NLT)

Preparing to Move the Ark

(2Sa 6:12–16 )

1Ch 15:1David now built several buildings for himself in the City of David. He also prepared a place for the Ark of God and set up a special tent for it.

1Ch 15:2

1Ch 15:2Then he commanded, “No one except the Levites may carry the Ark of God. The LORD has chosen them to carry the Ark of the LORD and to serve him forever.”

1Ch 15:3

1Ch 15:3Then David summoned all Israel to Jerusalem to bring the Ark of the LORD to the place he had prepared for it.

1Ch 15:4

1Ch 15:4This is the number of the descendants of Aaron (the priests) and the Levites who were called together:

1Ch 15:5

1Ch 15:5From the clan of Kohath, 120, with Uriel as their leader.

1Ch 15:6

1Ch 15:6From the clan of Merari, 220, with Asaiah as their leader.

1Ch 15:7

1Ch 15:7From the clan of Gershon,[fn] 130, with Joel as their leader.

1Ch 15:8

1Ch 15:8From the descendants of Elizaphan, 200, with Shemaiah as their leader.

1Ch 15:9

1Ch 15:9From the descendants of Hebron, 80, with Eliel as their leader.

1Ch 15:10

1Ch 15:10From the descendants of Uzziel, 112, with Amminadab as their leader.

1Ch 15:11

1Ch 15:11Then David summoned the priests, Zadok and Abiathar, and these Levite leaders: Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab.

1Ch 15:12

1Ch 15:12He said to them, “You are the leaders of the Levite families. You must purify yourselves and all your fellow Levites, so you can bring the Ark of the LORD, the God of Israel, to the place I have prepared for it.

1Ch 15:13

1Ch 15:13Because you Levites did not carry the Ark the first time, the anger of the LORD our God burst out against us. We failed to ask God how to move it properly.”

1Ch 15:14

1Ch 15:14So the priests and the Levites purified themselves in order to bring the Ark of the LORD, the God of Israel, to Jerusalem.

1Ch 15:15

1Ch 15:15Then the Levites carried the Ark of God on their shoulders with its carrying poles, just as the LORD had instructed Moses.

1Ch 15:16

1Ch 15:16David also ordered the Levite leaders to appoint a choir of Levites who were singers and musicians to sing joyful songs to the accompaniment of harps, lyres, and cymbals.

1Ch 15:17

1Ch 15:17So the Levites appointed Heman son of Joel along with his fellow Levites: Asaph son of Berekiah, and Ethan son of Kushaiah from the clan of Merari.

1Ch 15:18

1Ch 15:18The following men were chosen as their assistants: Zechariah, Jaaziel,[fn] Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, and the gatekeepers—Obed-edom and Jeiel.

1Ch 15:19

1Ch 15:19The musicians Heman, Asaph, and Ethan were chosen to sound the bronze cymbals.

1Ch 15:20

1Ch 15:20Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah were chosen to play the harps.[fn]

1Ch 15:21

1Ch 15:21Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah were chosen to play the lyres.[fn]

1Ch 15:22

1Ch 15:22Kenaniah, the head Levite, was chosen as the choir leader because of his skill.

1Ch 15:23

1Ch 15:23Berekiah and Elkanah were chosen to guard[fn] the Ark.

1Ch 15:24

1Ch 15:24Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer—all of whom were priests—were chosen to blow the trumpets as they marched in front of the Ark of God. Obed-edom and Jehiah were chosen to guard the Ark.

Moving the Ark to Jerusalem

1Ch 15:25

1Ch 15:25Then David and the elders of Israel and the generals of the army[fn] went to the house of Obed-edom to bring the Ark of the LORD’s Covenant up to Jerusalem with a great celebration.

1Ch 15:26

1Ch 15:26And because God was clearly helping the Levites as they carried the Ark of the LORD’s Covenant, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams.

1Ch 15:27

1Ch 15:27David was dressed in a robe of fine linen, as were all the Levites who carried the Ark, and also the singers, and Kenaniah the choir leader. David was also wearing a priestly garment.[fn]

1Ch 15:28

1Ch 15:28So all Israel brought up the Ark of the LORD’s Covenant with shouts of joy, the blowing of rams’ horns and trumpets, the crashing of cymbals, and loud playing on harps and lyres.

1Ch 15:29

1Ch 15:29But as the Ark of the LORD’s Covenant entered the City of David, Michal, the daughter of Saul, looked down from her window. When she saw King David skipping about and laughing with joy, she was filled with contempt for him.