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1 Chronicles 15
Expanded Bible
1 Chronicles 15
Expanded Bible
The Ark Is Brought to Jerusalem(A)
15 David built ·houses [buildings] for himself in the City of David [C Jerusalem]. Then he prepared a place for the Ark of God, and he set up a tent for it. 2 David said, “Only the Levites may carry the Ark of God. The Lord chose them to carry the Ark of the Lord and to ·serve [minister to/for] him forever.”
3 David ·called [summoned; assembled] all the people of Israel to come to Jerusalem. He wanted to bring the Ark of the Lord to the place he had ·made [prepared] for it. 4 David called together the descendants of Aaron and the Levites. 5 There were one hundred twenty ·people from [L sons of] Kohath’s ·family group [clan], with Uriel as their ·leader [chief]. 6 There were two hundred twenty ·people from [L sons of] Merari’s ·family group [clan], with Asaiah as their ·leader [chief]. 7 There were one hundred thirty ·people from [L sons of] ·Gershon’s [or Gersom’s; 6:1] ·family group [clan], with Joel as their ·leader [chief]. 8 There were two hundred ·people from [L sons of] Elizaphan’s ·family group [clan], with Shemaiah as their ·leader [chief]. 9 There were eighty ·people from [L sons of] Hebron’s ·family group [clan], with Eliel as their ·leader [chief]. 10 And there were one hundred twelve ·people from [L sons of] Uzziel’s ·family group [clan], with Amminadab as their ·leader [chief].
11 Then David ·asked [called for; summoned] the priests Zadok and Abiathar and these Levites to come to him: Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab. 12 David said to them, “You are the leaders of the ·families [clans] of Levi. You and the other Levites must ·give yourselves for service [consecrate/purify/sanctify yourselves] to the Lord, so that you can bring up the Ark of the Lord, the God of Israel, to the place I have ·made [prepared] for it. 13 The first time we did not ask the Lord ·how [the proper/lawful way] to carry it. You Levites didn’t carry it, so the Lord our God ·punished [L burst/broke out against] us.”
14 Then the priests and Levites ·prepared themselves for service to the Lord [consecrated/purified/sanctified themselves] so they could ·carry [bring up] the Ark of the Lord, the God of Israel. 15 The Levites used special poles to carry the Ark of God on their shoulders, as Moses had ·commanded [ordered; instructed], ·just as the Lord had said they should [L according to the word of the Lord].
16 David ·told [commanded; ordered] the ·leaders [chiefs] of the Levites to appoint their ·relatives [kinsmen; L brothers] as ·singers [musicians] to play their lyres, harps, and cymbals and to ·sing happy songs [play/sing joyfully].
17 So the Levites appointed Heman and his ·relatives [kinsmen; L brothers] Asaph and Ethan. Heman was Joel’s son. Asaph was Berekiah’s son. And Ethan, from the Merari ·family group [clan], was Kushaiah’s son. 18 There was also a second ·group [rank; C possibly assistants] of Levites: Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, and Jeiel. They were the Levite ·guards [gatekeepers].
19 The ·singers [musicians] Heman, Asaph, and Ethan played bronze cymbals. 20 Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah played ·the lyres [harps] according to alamoth [C possibly indicating to be sung by a soprano; Ps. 46:title]. 21 Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah played the ·harps [lyres] according to ·sheminith [L eighth; C a reference to an eight-stringed instrument or perhaps to the manner of singing; Ps. 12:title; Ps. 16:title]. 22 The Levite leader Kenaniah was in charge of the singing, because he was ·very good at it [highly skilled; very knowledgeable].
23 Berekiah and Elkanah were two of the ·guards [gatekeepers] for the Ark. 24 The priests Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer had the job of blowing trumpets ·in front of [before] the Ark of God. Obed-Edom and Jehiah were also ·guards [gatekeepers] for the Ark.
25 David, the ·leaders [elders] of Israel, and the ·commanders [captains] of a thousand soldiers went to ·get [bring up] the Ark of the ·Agreement [Treaty; Covenant] with the Lord. They all went to bring the Ark from Obed-Edom’s house with great ·joy [celebration]. 26 Because God helped the Levites who carried the Ark of the ·Agreement [Testimony; Treaty; Covenant] with the Lord, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven ·male sheep [rams]. 27 All the Levites who carried the Ark, and Kenaniah, the man in charge of the singing, and all the singers wore robes of fine linen. David also wore a robe of fine linen and a ·holy vest of fine linen [L ephod; Ex. 28:6–14]. 28 So all the people of Israel brought up the Ark of the ·Agreement [Testimony; Treaty; Covenant] with the Lord. They shouted, blew horns and trumpets, and played cymbals, lyres, and harps.
29 As the Ark of the ·Agreement [Testimony; Treaty; Covenant] with the Lord entered the City of David [C Jerusalem], Saul’s daughter Michal watched from a window. When she saw King David ·dancing [leaping] and celebrating, she hated him in her heart.
1 Chronicles 15
New International Version
1 Chronicles 15
New International Version
The Ark Brought to Jerusalem(A)
15 After David had constructed buildings for himself in the City of David, he prepared(B) a place for the ark of God and pitched(C) a tent for it. 2 Then David said, “No one but the Levites(D) may carry(E) the ark of God, because the Lord chose them to carry the ark of the Lord and to minister(F) before him forever.”
3 David assembled all Israel(G) in Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the Lord to the place he had prepared for it. 4 He called together the descendants of Aaron and the Levites:(H)
5 From the descendants of Kohath,
Uriel(I) the leader and 120 relatives;
6 from the descendants of Merari,
Asaiah the leader and 220 relatives;
7 from the descendants of Gershon,[a]
Joel the leader and 130 relatives;
8 from the descendants of Elizaphan,(J)
Shemaiah the leader and 200 relatives;
9 from the descendants of Hebron,(K)
Eliel the leader and 80 relatives;
10 from the descendants of Uzziel,
Amminadab the leader and 112 relatives.
11 Then David summoned Zadok(L) and Abiathar(M) the priests, and Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel and Amminadab the Levites. 12 He said to them, “You are the heads of the Levitical families; you and your fellow Levites are to consecrate(N) yourselves and bring up the ark of the Lord, the God of Israel, to the place I have prepared for it. 13 It was because you, the Levites,(O) did not bring it up the first time that the Lord our God broke out in anger against us.(P) We did not inquire of him about how to do it in the prescribed way.(Q)” 14 So the priests and Levites consecrated themselves in order to bring up the ark of the Lord, the God of Israel. 15 And the Levites carried the ark of God with the poles on their shoulders, as Moses had commanded(R) in accordance with the word of the Lord.(S)
16 David(T) told the leaders of the Levites(U) to appoint their fellow Levites as musicians(V) to make a joyful sound with musical instruments: lyres, harps and cymbals.(W)
17 So the Levites appointed Heman(X) son of Joel; from his relatives, Asaph(Y) son of Berekiah; and from their relatives the Merarites,(Z) Ethan son of Kushaiah; 18 and with them their relatives next in rank: Zechariah,[b] Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom(AA) and Jeiel,[c] the gatekeepers.
19 The musicians Heman,(AB) Asaph and Ethan were to sound the bronze cymbals; 20 Zechariah, Jaaziel,[d] Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah and Benaiah were to play the lyres according to alamoth,[e] 21 and Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, Jeiel and Azaziah were to play the harps, directing according to sheminith.[f] 22 Kenaniah the head Levite was in charge of the singing; that was his responsibility because he was skillful at it.
23 Berekiah and Elkanah were to be doorkeepers for the ark. 24 Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah and Eliezer the priests were to blow trumpets(AC) before the ark of God. Obed-Edom and Jehiah were also to be doorkeepers for the ark.
25 So David and the elders of Israel and the commanders of units of a thousand went to bring up the ark(AD) of the covenant of the Lord from the house of Obed-Edom, with rejoicing. 26 Because God had helped the Levites who were carrying the ark of the covenant of the Lord, seven bulls and seven rams(AE) were sacrificed. 27 Now 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.(AF) 28 So all Israel(AG) brought up the ark of the covenant of the Lord with shouts,(AH) with the sounding of rams’ horns(AI) and trumpets, and of cymbals, and the playing of lyres and harps.
29 As 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.
Footnotes
- 1 Chronicles 15:7 Hebrew Gershom, a variant of Gershon
- 1 Chronicles 15:18 Three Hebrew manuscripts and most Septuagint manuscripts (see also verse 20 and 16:5); most Hebrew manuscripts Zechariah son and or Zechariah, Ben and
- 1 Chronicles 15:18 Hebrew; Septuagint (see also verse 21) Jeiel and Azaziah
- 1 Chronicles 15:20 See verse 18; Hebrew Aziel, a variant of Jaaziel.
- 1 Chronicles 15:20 Probably a musical term
- 1 Chronicles 15:21 Probably a musical term
1 Chronicles 15
King James Version
1 Chronicles 15
King James Version
15 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.
2 Then 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.
3 And David gathered all Israel together to Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the Lord unto his place, which he had prepared for it.
4 And David assembled the children of Aaron, and the Levites:
5 Of the sons of Kohath; Uriel the chief, and his brethren an hundred and twenty:
6 Of the sons of Merari; Asaiah the chief, and his brethren two hundred and twenty:
7 Of the sons of Gershom; Joel the chief and his brethren an hundred and thirty:
8 Of the sons of Elizaphan; Shemaiah the chief, and his brethren two hundred:
9 Of the sons of Hebron; Eliel the chief, and his brethren fourscore:
10 Of the sons of Uzziel; Amminadab the chief, and his brethren an hundred and twelve.
11 And David called for Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and for the Levites, for Uriel, Asaiah, and Joel, Shemaiah, and Eliel, and Amminadab,
12 And 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.
13 For 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.
14 So the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of the Lord God of Israel.
15 And 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.
16 And 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.
17 So 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;
18 And 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.
19 So the singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, were appointed to sound with cymbals of brass;
20 And Zechariah, and Aziel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Unni, and Eliab, and Maaseiah, and Benaiah, with psalteries on Alamoth;
21 And Mattithiah, and Elipheleh, and Mikneiah, and Obededom, and Jeiel, and Azaziah, with harps on the Sheminith to excel.
22 And Chenaniah, chief of the Levites, was for song: he instructed about the song, because he was skilful.
23 And Berechiah and Elkanah were doorkeepers for the ark.
24 And 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.
26 And 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.
27 And 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.
28 Thus 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.
29 And 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.
1 Chronicles 15
New King James Version
1 Chronicles 15
New King James Version
The Ark Brought to Jerusalem(A)
15 David built houses for himself in the City of David; and he prepared a place for the ark of God, (B)and pitched a tent for it. 2 Then David said, “No one may carry the (C)ark of God but the Levites, for (D)the Lord has chosen them to carry the ark of God and to minister before Him forever.” 3 And David (E)gathered all Israel together at Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the Lord to its place, which he had prepared for it. 4 Then David assembled the children of Aaron and the Levites: 5 of the sons of Kohath, Uriel the chief, and one hundred and twenty of his [a]brethren; 6 of the sons of Merari, Asaiah the chief, and two hundred and twenty of his brethren; 7 of the sons of Gershom, Joel the chief, and one hundred and thirty of his brethren; 8 of the sons of (F)Elizaphan, Shemaiah the chief, and two hundred of his brethren; 9 of the sons of (G)Hebron, Eliel the chief, and eighty of his brethren; 10 of the sons of Uzziel, Amminadab the chief, and one hundred and twelve of his brethren.
11 And David called for (H)Zadok and (I)Abiathar the priests, and for the Levites: for Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab. 12 He said to them, “You are the heads of the fathers’ houses of the Levites; [b]sanctify yourselves, you and your brethren, that you may bring up the ark of the Lord God of Israel to the place I have prepared for it. 13 For (J)because you did not do it the first time, (K)the Lord our God broke out against us, because we did not consult Him [c]about the proper order.”
14 So the priests and the Levites [d]sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of the Lord God of Israel. 15 And the children of the Levites bore the ark of God on their shoulders, by its poles, as (L)Moses had commanded according to the word of the Lord.
16 Then David spoke to the leaders of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be the singers accompanied by instruments of music, stringed instruments, harps, and cymbals, by raising the voice with resounding joy. 17 So the Levites appointed (M)Heman the son of Joel; and of his brethren, (N)Asaph the son of Berechiah; and of their brethren, the sons of Merari, (O)Ethan the son of Kushaiah; 18 and with them their brethren of the second rank: Zechariah, [e]Ben, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Elipheleh, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, and Jeiel, the gatekeepers; 19 the singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, were to sound the cymbals of bronze; 20 Zechariah, [f]Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah, with strings according to (P)Alamoth; 21 Mattithiah, Elipheleh, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah, to direct with harps on the (Q)Sheminith; 22 Chenaniah, leader of the Levites, was instructor in charge of the music, because he was skillful; 23 Berechiah and Elkanah were doorkeepers for the ark; 24 Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer, the priests, (R)were to blow the trumpets before the ark of God; and (S)Obed-Edom and Jehiah, doorkeepers for the ark.
25 So (T)David, the elders of Israel, and the captains over thousands went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord from the house of Obed-Edom with joy. 26 And so it was, when God helped the Levites who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord, that they offered seven bulls and seven rams. 27 David was clothed with a robe of fine (U)linen, as were all the Levites who bore the ark, the singers, and Chenaniah the music master with the singers. David also wore a linen ephod. 28 (V)Thus all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the Lord with shouting and with the sound of the horn, with trumpets and with cymbals, making music with stringed instruments and harps.
29 And it happened, (W)as the ark of the covenant of the Lord came to the City of David, that Michal, Saul’s daughter, looked through a window and saw King David whirling and playing music; and she despised him in her heart.
Footnotes
- 1 Chronicles 15:5 kinsmen
- 1 Chronicles 15:12 consecrate
- 1 Chronicles 15:13 regarding the ordinance
- 1 Chronicles 15:14 consecrated
- 1 Chronicles 15:18 So with MT, Vg.; LXX omits Ben
- 1 Chronicles 15:20 Jaaziel, v. 18
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New King James Version (NKJV) 
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