1 Chronicles 15-16

The Ark Brought to Jerusalem 1After David had constructed buildings for himself in the City of David, he prepared a place for the ark of God and pitched a tent for it.

2Then David said, “No one but the Levites may carry the ark of God, because the LORD chose them to carry the ark of the LORD and to minister before him forever.” 3David assembled all Israel in Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the LORD to the place he had prepared for it.

4He called together the descendants of Aaron and the Levites:

5From the descendants of Kohath, Uriel the leader and 120 relatives;

6from the descendants of Merari, Asaiah the leader and 220 relatives;

7from the descendants of Gershon, Hebrew Gershom, a variant of Gershon Joel the leader and 130 relatives;

8from the descendants of Elizaphan, Shemaiah the leader and 200 relatives;

9from the descendants of Hebron, Eliel the leader and 80 relatives;

10from the descendants of Uzziel, Amminadab the leader and 112 relatives. 11Then David summoned Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel and Amminadab the Levites. 12He said to them, “You are the heads of the Levitical families; you and your fellow Levites are to consecrate yourselves and bring up the ark of the LORD, the God of Israel, to the place I have prepared for it. 13It was because you, the Levites, did not bring it up the first time that the LORD our God broke out in anger against us. We did not inquire of him about how to do it in the prescribed way.” 14So the priests and Levites consecrated themselves in order to bring up the ark of the LORD, the God of Israel.

15And the Levites carried the ark of God with the poles on their shoulders, as Moses had commanded in accordance with the word of the LORD .

16David told the leaders of the Levites to appoint their fellow Levites as musicians to make a joyful sound with musical instruments: lyres, harps and cymbals. 17So the Levites appointed Heman son of Joel; from his relatives, Asaph son of Berekiah; and from their relatives the Merarites, Ethan son of Kushaiah;

18and with them their relatives next in rank: Zechariah, Three Hebrew manuscripts and most Septuagint manuscripts (see also verse 20 and 16:5); most Hebrew manuscripts Zechariah son and or Zechariah, Ben and Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom and Jeiel, Hebrew; Septuagint (see also verse 21) Jeiel and Azaziah the gatekeepers. 19The musicians Heman, Asaph and Ethan were to sound the bronze cymbals; 20Zechariah, Jaaziel, See verse 18; Hebrew Aziel, a variant of Jaaziel. Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah and Benaiah were to play the lyres according to alamoth, Probably a musical term 21and Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, Jeiel and Azaziah were to play the harps, directing according to sheminith. Probably a musical term

22Kenaniah the head Levite was in charge of the singing; that was his responsibility because he was skillful at it. 23Berekiah and Elkanah were to be doorkeepers for the ark.

24Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah and Eliezer the priests were to blow trumpets before the ark of God. Obed-Edom and Jehiah were also to be doorkeepers for the ark. 25So David and the elders of Israel and the commanders of units of a thousand went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD from the house of Obed-Edom, with rejoicing. 26Because God had helped the Levites who were carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD, seven bulls and seven rams were sacrificed. 27Now 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.

28So all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the LORD with shouts, with the sounding of rams’ horns and trumpets, and of cymbals, and the playing of lyres and harps. 29As 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.

Ministering Before the Ark 1They brought the ark of God and set it inside the tent that David had pitched for it, and they presented burnt offerings and fellowship offerings before God. 2After David had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD .

3Then he gave a loaf of bread, a cake of dates and a cake of raisins to each Israelite man and woman. 4He appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of the LORD, to extol, Or petition; or invoke thank, and praise the LORD, the God of Israel: 5Asaph was the chief, and next to him in rank were Zechariah, then Jaaziel, See 15:18,20; Hebrew Jeiel, possibly another name for Jaaziel. Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-Edom and Jeiel. They were to play the lyres and harps, Asaph was to sound the cymbals,

6and Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests were to blow the trumpets regularly before the ark of the covenant of God.

7That day David first appointed Asaph and his associates to give praise to the LORD in this manner:

8Give praise to the LORD, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done.

9Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts.

10Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.

11Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always.

12Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced,

13you his servants, the descendants of Israel, his chosen ones, the children of Jacob.

14He is the LORD our God; his judgments are in all the earth.

15He remembers Some Septuagint manuscripts (see also Psalm 105:8); Hebrew Remember his covenant forever, the promise he made, for a thousand generations,

16the covenant he made with Abraham, the oath he swore to Isaac.

17He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree, to Israel as an everlasting covenant:

18“To you I will give the land of Canaan as the portion you will inherit.”

19When they were but few in number, few indeed, and strangers in it,

20they One Hebrew manuscript, Septuagint and Vulgate (see also Psalm 105:12); most Hebrew manuscripts inherit, / 19 though you are but few in number, / few indeed, and strangers in it.” / 20 They wandered from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another.

21He allowed no one to oppress them; for their sake he rebuked kings:

22“Do not touch my anointed ones; do my prophets no harm.”

23Sing to the LORD, all the earth; proclaim his salvation day after day.

24Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples.

25For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods.

26For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the LORD made the heavens.

27Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy are in his dwelling place.

28Ascribe to the LORD, all you families of nations, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.

29Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering and come before him. Worship the LORD in the splendor of his Or Lord with the splendor of holiness.

30Tremble before him, all the earth! The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved.

31Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let them say among the nations, “The LORD reigns!”

32Let the sea resound, and all that is in it; let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them!

33Let the trees of the forest sing, let them sing for joy before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth.

34Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.

35Cry out, “Save us, God our Savior; gather us and deliver us from the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name, and glory in your praise.”

36Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Then all the people said “Amen” and “Praise the LORD .” 37David left Asaph and his associates before the ark of the covenant of the LORD to minister there regularly, according to each day’s requirements.

38He also left Obed-Edom and his sixty-eight associates to minister with them. Obed-Edom son of Jeduthun, and also Hosah, were gatekeepers. 39David left Zadok the priest and his fellow priests before the tabernacle of the LORD at the high place in Gibeon 40to present burnt offerings to the LORD on the altar of burnt offering regularly, morning and evening, in accordance with everything written in the Law of the LORD, which he had given Israel. 41With them were Heman and Jeduthun and the rest of those chosen and designated by name to give thanks to the LORD, “for his love endures forever.”

42Heman and Jeduthun were responsible for the sounding of the trumpets and cymbals and for the playing of the other instruments for sacred song. The sons of Jeduthun were stationed at the gate. 43Then all the people left, each for their own home, and David returned home to bless his family.