Old Testament

New Testament

1 Chronicles 15:11-29 New Living Translation (NLT)

11. Then David summoned the priests, Zadok and Abiathar, and these Levite leaders: Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab.

12. He said to them, “You are the leaders of the Levite families. You must purify yourselves and all your fellow Levites, so you can bring the Ark of the lord, the God of Israel, to the place I have prepared for it.

13. Because you Levites did not carry the Ark the first time, the anger of the lord our God burst out against us. We failed to ask God how to move it properly.”

14. So the priests and the Levites purified themselves in order to bring the Ark of the lord, the God of Israel, to Jerusalem.

15. Then the Levites carried the Ark of God on their shoulders with its carrying poles, just as the lord had instructed Moses.

16. David also ordered the Levite leaders to appoint a choir of Levites who were singers and musicians to sing joyful songs to the accompaniment of harps, lyres, and cymbals.

17. So the Levites appointed Heman son of Joel along with his fellow Levites: Asaph son of Berekiah, and Ethan son of Kushaiah from the clan of Merari.

18. The following men were chosen as their assistants: Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, and the gatekeepers—Obed-edom and Jeiel.

19. The musicians Heman, Asaph, and Ethan were chosen to sound the bronze cymbals.

20. Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah were chosen to play the harps.

21. Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah were chosen to play the lyres.

22. Kenaniah, the head Levite, was chosen as the choir leader because of his skill.

23. Berekiah and Elkanah were chosen to guard the Ark.

24. Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer—all of whom were priests—were chosen to blow the trumpets as they marched in front of the Ark of God. Obed-edom and Jehiah were chosen to guard the Ark.

25. Then David and the elders of Israel and the generals of the army went to the house of Obed-edom to bring the Ark of the lord’s Covenant up to Jerusalem with a great celebration.

26. And because God was clearly helping the Levites as they carried the Ark of the lord’s Covenant, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams.

27. David was dressed in a robe of fine linen, as were all the Levites who carried the Ark, and also the singers, and Kenaniah the choir leader. David was also wearing a priestly garment.

28. So all Israel brought up the Ark of the lord’s Covenant with shouts of joy, the blowing of rams’ horns and trumpets, the crashing of cymbals, and loud playing on harps and lyres.

29. But as the Ark of the lord’s Covenant entered the City of David, Michal, the daughter of Saul, looked down from her window. When she saw King David skipping about and laughing with joy, she was filled with contempt for him.

Read complete chapter 1 Chronicles 15