1. After David constructed buildings for himself in the City of David, he prepared a place for God’s ark and set up a tent for it.
2. Then David insisted that only the Levites carry God’s ark because the Lord had chosen them to carry his ark and to serve him forever.
3. David called together all Israel at Jerusalem to bring the Lord’s ark to the place he had prepared for it.
4. David also called together Aaron’s descendants and the Levites.
5. Leading Kohath’s descendants was Uriel, who came with 120 of his relatives.
6. Leading Merari’s descendants was Asaiah, who came with 220 of his relatives.
7. Leading Gershom’s descendants was Joel, who came with 130 of his relatives.
8. Leading Elizaphan’s descendants was Shemaiah, who came with 200 of his relatives.
9. Leading Hebron’s descendants was Eliel, who came with 80 of his relatives.
10. Leading Uzziel’s descendants was Amminadab, who came with 112 of his relatives.
11. David called for the priests Zadok and Abiathar and for the Levites Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab.
12. He said to them, “You are the heads of the Levite families. You and your relatives must perform the ceremonies to make yourselves holy. Then bring the ark of the Lord God of Israel to the place I prepared for it.
13. Because you weren’t there the first time, the Lord our God struck us. We hadn’t dedicated our lives to serving him in the way ⌊he⌋ designated.”
14. So the priests and the Levites made themselves holy in order to move the ark of the Lord God of Israel.
15. The Levites carried God’s ark on their shoulders. They used poles as Moses had commanded according to the Lord’s instructions.