1 Chronicles 15:14 | New International Reader’s Version

New International Reader’s Version

David brings the ark to Jerusalem

1 David constructed buildings for himself in the City of David. Then he prepared a place for the ark of God. He set up a tent for it. 2 He said, ‘Only Levites can carry the ark of God. That’s because the LORD chose them to carry his ark. He chose them to serve him for ever in front of the place where his throne is.’ 3 David gathered the whole community of Israel together in Jerusalem. He wanted to carry up the ark of the LORD to the place he had prepared for it. 4 He called together the members of the family line of Aaron. He also called the Levites together. Here are the men who came from the families of the Levites. 5 From the families of Kohath came the leader Uriel and 120 relatives. 6 From the families of Merari came the leader Asaiah and 220 relatives. 7 From the families of Gershon came the leader Joel and 130 relatives. 8 From the families of Elizaphan came the leader Shemaiah and 200 relatives. 9 From the families of Hebron came the leader Eliel and 80 relatives. 10 From the families of Uzziel came the leader Amminadab and 112 relatives. 11 David sent for Zadok and Abiathar, the priests. He also sent for Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel and Amminadab. They were Levites. 12 He said to them, ‘You are the leaders of the families of Levi. You and the other Levites must set yourselves apart to serve the LORD and his people. You must carry up the ark of the LORD. He is the God of Israel. Put the ark in the place I’ve prepared for it. 13 Remember when the anger of the LORD our God broke out against us? That’s because it wasn’t you Levites who tried to carry up the ark the first time. We didn’t ask the LORD how to do it in the way the law requires.’ 14 So the priests and Levites set themselves apart. Then they carried up the ark of the LORD. He is the God of Israel. 15 This time the Levites used the poles to carry on their shoulders the ark of God. That’s what Moses had commanded in keeping with the word of the LORD. 16 David told the Levite leaders to appoint other Levites as musicians. He wanted them to make a joyful sound with lyres, harps and cymbals. 17 So the Levites appointed Heman, the son of Joel. From his relatives they chose Asaph, the son of Berekiah. Other relatives were from the family of Merari. From them they chose Ethan, the son of Kushaiah. 18 Along with them they chose their relatives who were next in rank. Their names were Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom and Jeiel. They guarded the gates. 19 Heman, Asaph and Ethan played the bronze cymbals. 20 Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah and Benaiah played the lyres according to alamoth. 21 Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, Jeiel and Azaziah played the harps according to sheminith. 22 Kenaniah was the leader of the Levites. He was in charge of the singing because he was good at it. 23 Berekiah and Elkanah guarded the ark. 24 Some of the priests blew trumpets in front of the ark of God. Their names were Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah and Eliezer. Obed-Edom and Jehiah also helped guard the ark. 25 David and the elders of Israel went to carry up the ark of the covenant of the LORD. So did the commanders of military groups of 1,000 men. With great joy they carried up the ark from the house of Obed-Edom. 26 God had helped the Levites who were carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD. So seven bulls and seven rams were sacrificed. 27 David was wearing a robe made out of fine linen. So were all the Levites who were carrying the ark. And so were the musicians and the choir director Kenaniah. David was also wearing a sacred linen apron. 28 So the whole community of Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the LORD. They shouted. They blew rams’ horns and trumpets. They played cymbals, lyres and harps. 29 The ark of the covenant of the LORD was brought into the City of David. Saul’s daughter Michal was watching from a window. She saw King David dancing and celebrating. That made her hate him in her heart.

English Standard Version

The Ark Brought to Jerusalem

1 David^[1] built houses for himself in the city of David. And he prepared a place for the ark of God and pitched a tent for it. (1Ch 16:1) 2 Then David said that no one but the Levites may carry the ark of God, for the Lord had chosen them to carry the ark of the Lord and to minister to him forever. (Nu 4:2; Nu 4:15; 1Ch 15:15; 1Ch 15:26)

Nu 4:2Nu 4:151Ch 15:151Ch 15:26

3 And David assembled all Israel at Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the Lord to its place, which he had prepared for it. (2Sa 6:17; 1Ki 8:1; 1Ch 13:5; 1Ch 15:1; 1Ch 15:12)

2Sa 6:171Ki 8:11Ch 13:51Ch 15:11Ch 15:12

4 And David gathered together the sons of Aaron and the Levites: (1Ch 6:16) 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 Zadok and Abiathar, and the Levites Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab, (1Sa 22:20; 1Ki 2:26; 1Ch 6:8; 1Ch 16:39)

1Sa 22:201Ki 2:261Ch 6:81Ch 16:39

12 and said to them, “You are the heads of the fathers’ houses of the Levites. Consecrate yourselves, you and your brothers, so that you may bring up the ark of the Lord, the God of Israel, to the place that I have prepared for it. (1Ch 15:1; 1Ch 15:3; 2Ch 35:6) 13 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.” (2Sa 6:3; 1Ch 13:7) 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 with the poles, as Moses had commanded according to the word of the Lord. (Ex 25:14; Nu 4:15; Nu 7:9) 16 David also commanded the chiefs of the Levites to appoint their brothers as the singers who should play loudly on musical instruments, on harps and lyres and cymbals, to raise sounds of joy. (1Ch 13:8; 1Ch 16:5; 1Ch 16:42) 17 So the Levites appointed Heman the son of Joel; and of his brothers Asaph the son of Berechiah; and of the sons of Merari, their brothers, Ethan the son of Kushaiah; (1Ch 6:33; 1Ch 6:39; 1Ch 6:44) 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, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah were to play harps according to Alamoth; (1Ch 15:18; Ps 46:1) 21 but Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah were to lead with lyres according to the Sheminith. (1Ch 26:4; Ps 6:1) 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 blow the trumpets before the ark of God. Obed-edom and Jehiah were to be gatekeepers for the ark. (Nu 10:8; 1Ch 15:21; 1Ch 15:28; 1Ch 16:6)

Nu 10:81Ch 15:211Ch 15:281Ch 16:6

25 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 Obed-edom with rejoicing. (2Sa 6:12; 1Ch 15:21) 26 And because God helped the Levites who were carrying the ark of the covenant of the Lord, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams. (Nu 23:1; Job 42:8) 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, trumpets, and cymbals, and made loud music on harps and lyres. (1Ch 15:16; 1Ch 15:24) 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.