15 David built houses for himself in the City of David. He put up a tent as a place where he would put God's Covenant Box. 2 Then David said, ‘Only the Levites may carry God's Covenant Box. The Lord chose them to do that. He chose them to serve him for ever.’
3 David brought all the Israelites together in Jerusalem. He said that they should bring the Lord 's Covenant Box to the place that he had prepared for it. 4 Then David brought together the descendants of Aaron and the other Levites. They were:
5 From Kohath's clan, 120 people with their leader, Uriel.
6 From Merari's clan, 220 people with their leader, Asaiah.
7 From Gershon's clan, 130 people with their leader, Joel.
8 From Elizaphan's clan, 200 people with their leader, Shemaiah.
9 From Hebron's clan, 80 people with their leader, Eliel.
10 From Uzziel's clan, 112 people with their leader, Amminadab.
11 Then David told the priests Zadok and Abiathar to come to him. He also told these Levites to come: Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel and Amminadab. 12 David said to them, ‘You are the leaders of the Levites' clans. You and your relatives must make yourselves holy. Then you will be able to carry the Covenant Box of the Lord , Israel's God. You must bring it to the place that I have prepared for it. 13 The first time that we tried to bring it here, you did not carry it. Because of that, the Lord our God punished us. He did that because we did not ask him about the proper way to carry it.’
14 So the priests and the other Levites made themselves holy. Then they could carry the Covenant Box of the Lord , Israel's God. 15 The Levites carried God's Covenant Box with its poles on their shoulders. That is how God had commanded Moses that they should carry it.
16 David told the leaders of the Levites to choose some of their relatives to be musicians. Some would sing songs. Some would make music with lyres, harps and cymbals. They would sing loud and happy songs.
17 The Levites chose Joel's son Heman. They also chose Berekiah's son Asaph, who was a relative of Heman. And they chose Kushaiah's son Ethan, who belonged to Merari's clan. 18 They also chose another group of Levites to help them. They were: Zechariah, Ben, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, as well as two temple guards, Obed-Edom and Jeiel.
19 They chose these musicians to make music with bronze cymbals: Heman, Asaph and Ethan. 20 They chose these musicians to make music in a special way with harps: Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah and Benaiah.
21 They chose these musicians to make music in a special way with lyres: Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, Jeiel and Azaziah. 22 Kenaniah was the leader of the musicians. They chose him to do that because he had good skill in music.
23 Berekiah and Elkanah were guards to keep the Covenant Box safe.
24 The priests Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah and Eliezer walked in front of God's Covenant Box. They made a loud noise with trumpets as they went. Obed-Edom and Jehiah were also guards for the Covenant Box.
25 So David, the leaders of Israel and the army officers went to fetch the Lord 's Covenant Box from Obed-Edom's house. They were very happy as they took it from there to Jerusalem. 26 The Lord helped the Levites who were carrying his Covenant Box. So they offered seven bulls and seven male sheep as sacrifices to the Lord . 27 David was wearing a robe that was made of good linen. All the Levites who were carrying the Covenant Box also wore linen clothes. So did the musicians and Kenaniah, their leader. David also wore a linen ephod over his robe. [ a ]
28 In that way, all the Israelites brought the Lord 's Covenant Box to Jerusalem. They were shouting. They were making loud music with trumpets, cymbals, lyres and harps.
29 While they where bringing the Lord 's Covenant Box into the City of David, Saul's daughter Michal looked out through a window. She saw that King David was dancing because he was so happy. Michal felt ashamed of him.
15 David built houses for himself in the City of David. Then he built a place to put God’s Holy Box. He set up a tent for it. 2 Then he said, “Only the Levites are permitted to carry God’s Holy Box. The Lord chose them to carry it and to serve him forever.”
3 David told all the Israelites to meet together at Jerusalem to see the Lord ’s Holy Box carried to the place he had made for it. 4 He called together these descendants of Aaron and the Levites:
5 There were 120 people from the tribe of Kohath. Uriel was their leader.
6 There were 220 people from the tribe of Merari. Asaiah was their leader.
7 There were 130 people from the tribe of Gershon. Joel was their leader.
8 There were 200 people from the tribe of Elizaphan. Shemaiah was their leader.
9 There were 80 people from the tribe of Hebron. Eliel was their leader.
10 There were 112 people from the tribe of Uzziel. Amminadab was their leader.
11 Then David asked the priests, Zadok and Abiathar, to come to him. David also asked these Levites to come to him: Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab. 12 David said to them, “You are the leaders from the tribe of Levi. You and the other Levites must make yourselves holy. [ a ] Then bring the Holy Box of the Lord , the God of Israel, to the place I have made for it. 13 The first time we tried to bring it, we failed to ask the Lord about the right way to move it. And he punished us because you Levites did not carry it.”
14 Then the priests and Levites made themselves holy so that they could carry the Holy Box of the Lord , the God of Israel. 15 The Levites used the special poles to carry God’s Holy Box on their shoulders, the way Moses commanded. They carried the Holy Box just as the Lord had said.
16 David told the Levite leaders to get their brothers, the singers. The singers were to take their lyres, harps, and cymbals and sing happy songs.
17 Then the Levites got Heman and his brothers, Asaph and Ethan. Heman was Joel’s son. Asaph was Berekiah’s son. Ethan was Kushaiah’s son. These men were from the Merari tribe. 18 There was also a second group of Levites. They were Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed Edom, and Jeiel. These men were the Levite guards.
19 The singers Heman, Asaph, and Ethan played bronze cymbals. 20 Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah played the alamoth [ b ] harps. 21 Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed Edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah played the sheminith harps. This was their job forever. 22 The Levite leader Kenaniah was in charge of the singing. Kenaniah had this job because he was very skilled at singing.
23 Berekiah and Elkanah were two of the guards for the Holy Box. 24 The priests Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer had the job of blowing trumpets as they walked in front of God’s Holy Box. Obed Edom and Jehiah were the other guards for the Holy Box.
25 David, the elders of Israel, and the generals [ c ] went to get the Box of the Lord ’s Agreement. They brought it out from Obed Edom’s house. Everyone was very happy! 26 God had helped the Levites who carried the Box of the Lord ’s Agreement. So they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams to him. 27 All the Levites who carried the Holy Box wore robes made from fine linen. Kenaniah, the man in charge of the singing, and all the singers had robes made from fine linen. David also wore a robe made from fine linen. He also wore an ephod made of fine linen.
28 So all the Israelites joined in bringing up the Box of the Lord ’s Agreement. They shouted, they blew rams’ horns and trumpets, and they played cymbals, lyres, and harps.
29 When the Box of the Lord ’s Agreement arrived at the City of David, Saul’s daughter Michal looked through a window. When she saw King David dancing and playing, she lost her respect for him.
15 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, 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 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 And David assembled the children of Aaron, and the Levites:
5 Of the sons of Kohath; Uriel the chief, and his brethren an hundred and twenty:
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 Elizaphan; Shemaiah the chief, and his brethren two hundred:
9 Of the sons of 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 for Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and for the Levites, for Uriel, Asaiah, and Joel, Shemaiah, and Eliel, and Amminadab,
12 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 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 the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of the Lord God of Israel.
15 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 .
16 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 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 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 Obededom, and Jeiel, the porters.
19 So the singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, were appointed to sound with cymbals of brass;
20 And Zechariah, and Aziel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Unni, and Eliab, and Maaseiah, and Benaiah, with psalteries on Alamoth;
21 And Mattithiah, and Elipheleh, and Mikneiah, and Obededom, and Jeiel, and Azaziah, with harps on the Sheminith to excel.
22 And Chenaniah, chief of the Levites, was for song: he instructed about the song, because he was skilful.
23 And Berechiah and Elkanah were doorkeepers for the ark.
24 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 Obededom and Jehiah were doorkeepers for the ark.
25 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 Obededom with joy.
26 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 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 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 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.
15 Now David built houses for himself in the city of David; and he prepared a place for the ark of God and ( A ) pitched a tent for it. 2 Then David said, “ ( B ) No one is to carry the ark of God except the Levites; for the Lord chose them to carry the ark of the Lord and to serve Him forever.” 3 And ( C ) David assembled all Israel at Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the Lord ( D ) to its place which he had prepared for it. 4 David gathered together the sons of Aaron and ( E ) the Levites: 5 of the sons of Kohath, Uriel the chief, and 120 of his relatives; 6 of the sons of Merari, Asaiah the chief, and 220 of his relatives; 7 of the sons of Gershom, Joel the chief, and 130 of his relatives; 8 of the sons of Elizaphan, Shemaiah the chief, and two hundred of his relatives; 9 of the sons of Hebron, Eliel the chief, and eighty of his relatives; 10 of the sons of Uzziel, Amminadab the chief, and 112 of his relatives.
11 Then David called for the priests ( F ) Zadok and ( G ) Abiathar, and for the Levites, for Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab; 12 and he said to them, “You are the heads of the fathers’ households of the Levites; ( H ) consecrate yourselves, you and your relatives, so that you may bring up the ark of the Lord God of Israel ( I ) to the place that I have prepared for it. 13 ( J ) Because you did not carry it at the first, the Lord our God made an outburst against us, since we did not seek Him according to the ordinance.” 14 ( K ) So the priests and the Levites consecrated themselves to bring up the ark of the Lord God of Israel. 15 The sons of ( L ) the Levites carried the ark of God on their shoulders with the poles on them, just as Moses had commanded in accordance with the word of the Lord .
16 Then David spoke to the chiefs of the Levites ( M ) to appoint their relatives as the singers, with musical instruments, harps, lyres, and cymbals, playing to raise sounds of joy. 17 So ( N ) the Levites appointed Heman the son of Joel, and from his relatives, Asaph the son of Berechiah; and from the sons of Merari their relatives, Ethan the son of Kushaiah, 18 and with them their relatives of the second rank, Zechariah, [ a ] Ben, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-edom, and Jeiel, the gatekeepers. 19 So the singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, were appointed to sound aloud cymbals of bronze; 20 and Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah, with harps tuned to [ b ] ( O ) alamoth; 21 and Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah, to lead with [ c ] lyres tuned to ( P ) the sheminith. 22 Chenaniah, chief of the Levites, was in charge of the singing; he gave instruction in singing because he was skillful. 23 Berechiah and Elkanah were gatekeepers for the ark. 24 Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer, the priests, ( Q ) blew the trumpets before the ark of God. Obed-edom and Jehiah also were gatekeepers for the ark.
25 ( R ) So it was David, with the elders of Israel and the captains of thousands, who went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord from ( S ) the house of Obed-edom with joy. 26 Because God was helping the Levites who were carrying the ark of the covenant of the Lord , they sacrificed ( T ) seven bulls and seven rams. 27 Now David was clothed with a robe of fine linen with all the Levites who were carrying the ark, and the singers, and Chenaniah the leader of the singing with the singers. ( U ) David also wore an ephod of linen. 28 So all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the Lord with shouting, and with the sound of the horn, with trumpets, with loud-sounding cymbals, with harps, and lyres.
29 When the ark of the covenant of the Lord came to the city of David, ( V ) Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David dancing and celebrating; and she despised him in her heart.
15 After David had constructed buildings for himself in the City of David, he prepared ( B ) a place for the ark of God and pitched ( C ) a tent for it. 2 Then David said, “No one but the Levites ( D ) may carry ( E ) the ark of God, because the Lord chose them to carry the ark of the Lord and to minister ( F ) before him forever.”
3 David assembled all Israel ( G ) in Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the Lord to the place he had prepared for it. 4 He called together the descendants of Aaron and the Levites: ( H )
5 From the descendants of Kohath,
Uriel ( I ) the leader and 120 relatives;
6 from the descendants of Merari,
Asaiah the leader and 220 relatives;
7 from the descendants of Gershon, [ a ]
Joel the leader and 130 relatives;
8 from the descendants of Elizaphan, ( J )
Shemaiah the leader and 200 relatives;
9 from the descendants of Hebron, ( K )
Eliel the leader and 80 relatives;
10 from the descendants of Uzziel,
Amminadab the leader and 112 relatives.
11 Then David summoned Zadok ( L ) and Abiathar ( M ) the priests, and Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel and Amminadab the Levites. 12 He said to them, “You are the heads of the Levitical families; you and your fellow Levites are to consecrate ( N ) yourselves and bring up the ark of the Lord , the God of Israel, to the place I have prepared for it. 13 It was because you, the Levites, ( O ) did not bring it up the first time that the Lord our God broke out in anger against us. ( P ) We did not inquire of him about how to do it in the prescribed way. ( Q ) ” 14 So the priests and Levites consecrated themselves in order to bring up the ark of the Lord , the God of Israel. 15 And the Levites carried the ark of God with the poles on their shoulders, as Moses had commanded ( R ) in accordance with the word of the Lord . ( S )
16 David ( T ) told the leaders of the Levites ( U ) to appoint their fellow Levites as musicians ( V ) to make a joyful sound with musical instruments: lyres, harps and cymbals. ( W )
17 So the Levites appointed Heman ( X ) son of Joel; from his relatives, Asaph ( Y ) son of Berekiah; and from their relatives the Merarites, ( Z ) Ethan son of Kushaiah; 18 and with them their relatives next in rank: Zechariah, [ b ] Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom ( AA ) and Jeiel, [ c ] the gatekeepers.
19 The musicians Heman, ( AB ) Asaph and Ethan were to sound the bronze cymbals; 20 Zechariah, Jaaziel, [ d ] Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah and Benaiah were to play the lyres according to alamoth, [ e ] 21 and Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, Jeiel and Azaziah were to play the harps, directing according to sheminith. [ f ] 22 Kenaniah the head Levite was in charge of the singing; that was his responsibility because he was skillful at it.
23 Berekiah and Elkanah were to be doorkeepers for the ark. 24 Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah and Eliezer the priests were to blow trumpets ( AC ) before the ark of God. Obed-Edom and Jehiah were also to be doorkeepers for the ark.
25 So David and the elders of Israel and the commanders of units of a thousand went to bring up the ark ( AD ) of the covenant of the Lord from the house of Obed-Edom, with rejoicing. 26 Because God had helped the Levites who were carrying the ark of the covenant of the Lord , seven bulls and seven rams ( AE ) were sacrificed. 27 Now David was clothed in a robe of fine linen, as were all the Levites who were carrying the ark, and as were the musicians, and Kenaniah, who was in charge of the singing of the choirs. David also wore a linen ephod. ( AF ) 28 So all Israel ( AG ) brought up the ark of the covenant of the Lord with shouts, ( AH ) with the sounding of rams’ horns ( AI ) and trumpets, and of cymbals, and the playing of lyres and harps.
29 As the ark of the covenant of the Lord was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David dancing and celebrating, she despised him in her heart.
