2. Then David said, “Only the Levites may carry the Ark of the Covenant of God. The Lord chose them to carry the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord. He chose them to serve him forever.”
3. David called all the people of Israel to come to Jerusalem. He wanted to bring the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord to the place he had made for it.
4. David called together the descendants of Aaron and the Levites.
5. There were 120 people from Kohath’s family group. Uriel was their leader.
6. There were 220 people from Merari’s family group. Asaiah was their leader.
7. There were 130 people from Gershon’s family group. Joel was their leader.
8. There were 200 people from Elizaphan’s family group. Shemaiah was their leader.
9. There were 80 people from Hebron’s family group. Eliel was their leader.
10. There were 112 people from Uzziel’s family group. Amminadab was their leader.
11. Then David asked the priests Zadok and Abiathar to come to him. He also asked these Levites to come: Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel and Amminadab.
12. David said to them, “You are the leaders of the families of Levi. You and the other Levites must give yourselves for service to the Lord. Then bring up the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord, the God of Israel. Bring it to the place I have made for it.
13. The last time we did not ask the Lord how to carry it. You Levites didn’t carry it. So the Lord our God punished us.”
14. Then the priests and Levites prepared themselves for service to the Lord. They did this so they could carry the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord, the God of Israel.