1 Chronicles 15

1David made houses for himself in the city of David, prepared a place for the ark of God, and pitched a tent for it.

2Then David said, "None but the Levites may bear the ark of God, for Yahweh chose them to bear the ark of Yahweh and to serve him forever."

3David gathered all Israel to Jerusalem to bring up the ark of Yahweh to its place, which he had prepared for it.

4David assembled the sons of Aaron and the Levites.

5From the sons of Kohath, Uriel the chief and his brothers, one hundred twenty.

6of the sons of Merari, Asaiah the chief and his two hundred twenty brothers;

7of the sons of Gershom, their chief Joel and his brothers, one hundred thirty;

8From Elizaphan's sons: Shemaiah the chief, and his two hundred brothers.

9of the sons of Hebron, Eliel their leader and his eighty brothers;

10Uzziel's sons: Amminadab the chief, and his brothers one hundred twelve.

11David called Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and the Levites Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab.

12He said to them, “You heads of the Levites’ fathers, consecrate yourselves, you and your brothers, to bring up the ark of Yahweh, God of Israel, to the place I have prepared for it.”

13Because you did not do it at first, Yahweh our God broke out against us, because we did not seek him according to the ordinance.

14The priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of Yahweh, God of Israel.

15The sons of the Levites bore the ark of God on their shoulders with the poles on it, as Moses commanded according to the word of Yahweh.

16David commanded the chiefs of the Levites to appoint their brothers as singers with musical instruments—lyres, harps, and cymbals—resounding as they lifted their voices in joy.

17The Levites appointed Heman son of Joel, Asaph son of Berechiah from his brothers, and Ethan son of Kushaiah from the sons of Merari their brothers.

18With them their brothers of second rank—Zechariah, Ben, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Elipheleh, Mikneiah, Obed-edom, and Jeiel—the gatekeepers.

19The singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, had brass cymbals to sound.

20and Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah with harps according to Alamoth.

21Mattithiah, Elipheleh, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah with harps set to the Sheminith to lead.

22Chenaniah, chief of the Levites for song, instructed about the song because he was skilled.

23Berechiah and Elkanah were gatekeepers of the ark.

24Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer the priests sounded trumpets before the ark of God, and Obed-edom and Jehiah were doorkeepers for the ark.

25So David, the elders of Israel, and the captains of thousands set out to carry up the ark of Yahweh's covenant from Obed-Edom's house with joy.

26When God helped the Levites carrying the ark of Yahweh's covenant, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams.

27David wore a fine linen robe, along with all the Levites carrying the ark, the singers, and Chenaniah the choirmaster with the singers. David also wore a linen ephod.

28All Israel brought up the ark of Yahweh's covenant with shouts, to the sound of the horn, with trumpets and cymbals, resounding on psalteries and harps.

29As the ark of Yahweh's covenant came to David's city, Saul's daughter Michal looked out through the window and saw King David dancing and playing, and she despised him in her heart.