1 Chronicles 15

David Prepares the Right Way

1 David built himself a house in the City of David. Then he made space and prepped a special spot just for the Ark of God, pitching a tent to hold it down.

2 He said, “Only the Levites can carry the Ark of God, because that is who the LORD chose to handle it and serve Him forever.”

3 So David gathered the whole squad of Israel to bring the Ark of the LORD up to its new spot, the one he set up for it.

David Gathers the Priests and Levites

4 He pulled together the descendants of Aaron and all the Levites.

5 From the sons of Kohath: Uriel was the head, with 120 men under him.

6 From Merari: Asaiah led, with 220 men.

7 From Gershom: Joel was over 130 men.

8 From Elizaphan’s family: Shemaiah led 200.

9 From Hebron: Eliel was the head with 80 men.

10 From Uzziel: Amminadab led 112.

David Lays Down the Law

11 David called out Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and also the top Levite leaders, Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab.

12 He told them, “You all are the heads of the Levite families. Purify yourselves, get clean, you and your brothers. Then go bring up the Ark of the LORD, the God of Israel, to the spot I built for it.”

13 He kept it blunt: “Last time, you all did not step up, and the LORD our God hit us hard because we did not come correct, we did not move according to His word.”

14 So the priests and Levites purified themselves like David said, getting ready to carry the Ark of the LORD.

15 Then the Levites picked up the Ark of God the way God commanded Moses, carrying it by its poles on their shoulders. No shortcuts this time.

The Worship Leaders Get in Place

16 David told the Levite leaders to line up some singers, folks who could lift up praises with instruments: lyres, harps, cymbals, all of it, to bring out that joyful sound.

17 So the Levites brought in Heman (son of Joel), Asaph (son of Berechiah), and Ethan (son of Kushaiah) to lead.

18 Backing them up: Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah, all Levites assigned to sing and play.

19 Heman, Asaph, and Ethan were set to bang the bronze cymbals loud.

20 Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah played harps in that smooth upper register.

21 Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah were on lyres in the lower register, laying the foundation.

22 Chenaniah, leader of the Levites in music, was in charge of the flow because he knew how to handle it.

23 Berechiah and Elkanah were the ones guarding the Ark’s entrance.

24 Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer, all priests, blew the trumpets in front of the Ark. Obed-edom and Jehiah stayed on post at the Ark’s entrance.

The Ark Comes Home

25 David, the elders of Israel, and the army commanders went with joy to bring up the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD from Obed-edom’s house.

26 And because God had their backs, helping the Levites carry the Ark, they offered up seven bulls and seven rams as a sacrifice of thanks.

27 David rocked a fine linen robe, just like all the Levites carrying the Ark, the singers, and Chenaniah the choir director. David also wore a linen ephod, a priestly garment.

28 All Israel brought the Ark of the Covenant up with shouting, ram’s horns, trumpets, cymbals, harps, and lyres, full-on praise.

Michal Shows Her Disrespect

29 But when the Ark of the Covenant got to the City of David, Michal, Saul’s daughter, was watching from a window. When she saw King David dancing and celebrating with no shame, she looked at him with disgust in her heart.