David gets ready to bring the sacred chest to Jerusalem

1David had several buildings built in Jerusalem, and he had a tent set up where the sacred chest would be kept. 2He said, “Only Levites will be allowed to carry the chest, because the LORD has chosen them to do that work and to serve him for ever.”15.2: Dt 10.8.

3Next, David invited everyone to come to Jerusalem and watch the sacred chest being carried to the place he had set up for it. 4He also sent for Aaron's descendants and for the Levites. The Levites who came were: 5Uriel, the leader of the Kohath clan, and one hundred and twenty of his relatives; 6Asaiah, the leader of the Merari clan, and two hundred and twenty of his relatives; 7Joel, the leader of the Gershon clan, and one hundred and thirty of his relatives; 8Shemaiah, the leader of the Elizaphan clan, and two hundred of his relatives; 9Eliel, the leader of the Hebron clan, and eighty of his relatives; and 10Amminadab, the leader of the Uzziel clan, with one hundred and twelve of his relatives.

11David called together these six Levites and the two priests, Zadok and Abiathar. 12He said to them, “You are the leaders of the clans in the Levi tribe. You and your relatives must first go through the ceremony to make yourselves clean and acceptable to the LORD. Then you may carry the sacred chest that belongs to the LORD God of Israel and bring it to the place I have prepared for it. 13The first time we tried to bring the chest to Jerusalem, we didn't ask the LORD what he wanted us to do. He was angry with us, because you Levites weren't there to carry the chest.”

14The priests and the Levites made themselves clean. They were now ready to carry the sacred chest 15on poles that rested on their shoulders, just as the LORD had told Moses to do.15.15: Ex 25.14.

16David then told the leaders to choose some Levites to sing and play music on small harps, other stringed instruments, and cymbals. 17-21The men chosen to play the cymbals were Heman the son of Joel, his relative Asaph the son of Berechiah, and Ethan the son of Kushaiah from the Merari clan. Some of their assistants played the smaller harps: they were Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah. Others played the larger harps: they were Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Azaziah, and two of the temple guards, Obed-Edom and Jeiel.

22Chenaniah was chosen to be the music director, because he was a skilled musician.

23-24Four Levites were then appointed to guard the sacred chest. They were Berechiah, Elkanah, Obed-Edom, and Jehiah.

Finally, David chose priests to walk in front of the sacred chest and blow trumpets. They were Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer.

The sacred chest is brought to Jerusalem

(2 Samuel 6.12-22)

25David, the leaders of Israel, and the army commanders were very happy as they went to Obed-Edom's house to get the sacred chest. 26God gave the Levites the strength they needed to carry the chest, and so they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams.

27David, the Levites, Chenaniah the music director, and all the musicians were wearing linen robes, and David was also wearing a linen cloth.15.27 a linen cloth: The Hebrew word is “ephod”, which can mean either a piece of clothing like a skirt that went from the waist to the knee or a garment like an apron or jacket that only the priests wore. 28While the sacred chest was being carried into Jerusalem, everyone was celebrating by shouting and playing music on horns, trumpets, cymbals, harps, and other stringed instruments.

29Saul's daughter Michal15.29 Michal: One of David's wives. looked out of her window and watched the chest being brought into David's City. But when she saw David jumping and dancing in honour of the LORD, she was disgusted.