1 Chronicles 15

King James Version

Full text for 1 Chronicles Chapter 15

1¶ 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.

2Then 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.

3And David gathered all Israel together to Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the LORD unto his place, which he had prepared for it.

4And David assembled the children of Aaron, and the Levites:

5Of the sons of Kohath; Uriel the chief, and his brethren an hundred and twenty:

6Of the sons of Merari; Asaiah the chief, and his brethren two hundred and twenty:

7Of the sons of Gershom; Joel the chief, and his brethren an hundred and thirty:

8Of the sons of Elizaphan; Shemaiah the chief, and his brethren two hundred:

9Of the sons of Hebron; Eliel the chief, and his brethren fourscore:

10Of the sons of Uzziel; Amminadab the chief, and his brethren an hundred and twelve.

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

12And 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.

13For 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.

14So the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel.

15And 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.

16And 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.

17So 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;

18And 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.

19So the singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, [were appointed] to sound with cymbals of brass;

20And Zechariah, and Aziel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Unni, and Eliab, and Maaseiah, and Benaiah, with psalteries on Alamoth;

21And Mattithiah, and Elipheleh, and Mikneiah, and Obededom, and Jeiel, and Azaziah, with harps on the Sheminith to excel.

22And Chenaniah, chief of the Levites, [was] for song: he instructed about the song, because he [was] skilful.

23And Berechiah and Elkanah [were] doorkeepers for the ark.

24And 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.

26And 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.

27And 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.

28Thus 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.

29And 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.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

King David prepared a place for the Ark of God in Jerusalem and gathered all Israel to bring it up. Recognizing past error, he commanded only the Levites, who were chosen by the Lord, to carry the Ark according to the due order. The Levites sanctified themselves and bore the Ark on their shoulders, accompanied by appointed musicians and joyful celebration, successfully bringing it to the city of David.

Medium Summary

After preparing a tent for the Ark in Jerusalem, King David assembled the Levites, acknowledging that only they were divinely appointed to carry the sacred vessel. He explicitly stated that the previous attempt resulted in a "breach" because they had not sought the Lord "after the due order." Consequently, the priests and Levites sanctified themselves, ensuring the Ark was correctly borne upon their shoulders with staves, as commanded by Moses. David also appointed numerous Levites to serve as singers and musicians, using various instruments to accompany the procession with joy. The transfer from Obededom's house was marked by great celebration, sacrifices, and David's own participation in worship, though Michal viewed his dancing with disdain.

Long Summary

King David initiated the transfer of the Ark of God to Jerusalem, first preparing a dwelling place for it within the city. He then gathered all Israel, including the chief Levites and priests, to undertake this sacred task. David emphasized that only the Levites were chosen by the LORD to carry the Ark, directly addressing the previous failed attempt by stating that a "breach" occurred because they had not sought God "after the due order." Following this instruction, the priests and Levites sanctified themselves, ensuring they were ritually pure for their duty. The Levites then correctly bore the Ark upon their shoulders using staves, adhering to the Mosaic command. David further organized the procession by appointing numerous Levites as singers and musicians, specifying their instruments—psalteries, harps, and cymbals—to create a joyful sound. Prominent musicians like Heman, Asaph, and Ethan were designated, along with doorkeepers and priests who blew trumpets before the Ark. The entire assembly, including David, the elders, and captains, brought the Ark from the house of Obededom with immense joy. As God assisted the Levites, sacrifices of seven bullocks and seven rams were offered. David himself, clothed in a robe of fine linen and a linen ephod, participated actively in the celebration, which was characterized by shouting, trumpets, and various musical instruments. However, as the Ark entered the city, Michal, Saul's daughter, observed David dancing and playing, and she despised him in her heart for his unreserved display of worship.

Core Concepts

  • Proper Ark TransportThis chapter details David's correction of the method for moving the Ark of God, emphasizing that it must be carried by Levites on their shoulders, not on a cart, to avoid divine displeasure.
  • Levitical ResponsibilityThe Levites are explicitly identified as the divinely chosen individuals responsible for carrying the Ark and ministering before the Lord, a duty reiterated by David.
  • Sanctification for ServiceBefore handling the sacred Ark, the priests and Levites were required to sanctify themselves, underscoring the necessity of ritual purity for those engaged in holy service.
  • Organized WorshipDavid meticulously organized the procession with appointed Levites serving as musicians and singers, utilizing various instruments to accompany the Ark's transfer with sounds of joy and praise.
  • David's Leadership and RepentanceKing David demonstrates leadership by acknowledging past error and diligently ensuring that the Ark's transfer adheres to God's prescribed order, personally overseeing the preparations and participating in the worship.
  • Joyful ProcessionThe transfer of the Ark is depicted as a grand and celebratory event, marked by shouting, musical instruments, and sacrifices, reflecting the nation's collective joy in bringing God's presence into Jerusalem.