American King James Version - AKJV - 1999
1 Chronicles 15
1
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.
Reference
2
Then David said, None ought to carry the ark of God but the Levites: for them has the LORD chosen to carry the ark of God, and to minister to him for ever.
Reference
3
And David gathered all Israel together to Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the LORD to his place, which he had prepared for it.
Reference
4
And David assembled the children of Aaron, and the Levites:
5
Of the sons of Kohath; Uriel the chief, and his brothers an hundred and twenty:
6
Of the sons of Merari; Asaiah the chief, and his brothers two hundred and twenty:
8
Of the sons of Elizaphan; Shemaiah the chief, and his brothers two hundred:
Reference
People
Parallel theme
Exodus 6:22
9
Of the sons of Hebron; Eliel the chief, and his brothers fourscore:
Reference
People
Parallel theme
Exodus 6:18
11
And David called for Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and for the Levites, for Uriel, Asaiah, and Joel, Shemaiah, and Eliel, and Amminadab,
Reference
12
And said to them, You are the chief of the fathers of the Levites: sanctify yourselves, both you and your brothers, that you may bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel to the place that I have prepared for it.
Reference
13
For because you did it not at the first, the LORD our God made a breach on us, for that we sought him not after the due order.
Reference
Creation
Numbers 4:15
Parallel theme
1 Corinthians 14:40
1 Corinthians 11:2
Proverbs 28:13
Numbers 7:9
References God
2 Samuel 6:3
1 Chronicles 15:2
References Lord
Deuteronomy 31:9
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 bore the ark of God on their shoulders with the staves thereon, as Moses commanded according to the word of the LORD.
Reference
16
And David spoke to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brothers to be the singers with instruments of music, psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding, by lifting up the voice with joy.
Reference
Parallel theme
1 Chronicles 16:42
References David
Nehemiah 12:36
1 Chronicles 23:5
Sin
1 Chronicles 13:8
2 Chronicles 5:13
17
So the Levites appointed Heman the son of Joel; and of his brothers, Asaph the son of Berechiah; and of the sons of Merari their brothers, Ethan the son of Kushaiah;
Reference
18
And with them their brothers 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.
Reference
People
Parallel theme
1 Chronicles 26:4
19
So the singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, were appointed to sound with cymbals of brass;
Reference
Parallel theme
1 Chronicles 25:6
20
And Zechariah, and Aziel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Unni, and Eliab, and Maaseiah, and Benaiah, with psalteries on Alamoth;
People
21
And Mattithiah, and Elipheleh, and Mikneiah, and Obededom, and Jeiel, and Azaziah, with harps on the Sheminith to excel.
People
22
And Chenaniah, chief of the Levites, was for song: he instructed about the song, because he was skillful.
People
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.
Reference
People
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 bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD, that they offered seven bullocks and seven rams.
Reference
Parallel theme
Numbers 23:29
Job 42:8
1 Chronicles 29:14
2 Corinthians 2:16
Numbers 29:32
References God
Acts 26:22
2 Corinthians 3:5
References Lord
Ezekiel 45:23
1 Samuel 7:12
2 Samuel 6:13
27
And David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, and all the Levites that bore the ark, and the singers, and Chenaniah the master of the song with the singers: David also had on him an ephod of linen.
Reference
References David
2 Samuel 6:14
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.
Reference
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.
Reference
Kingdom
2 Samuel 6:16
Summary of 1 Chronicles 15
This chapter describes David's successful second attempt to bring the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. After the failure and tragedy of the first attempt, David learns that the Ark must be carried according to God's instructions. He therefore prepares a special place for it in Jerusalem and organizes the priests and Levites for the task.
David gathers representatives from the major Levitical families, including the descendants of Kohath, Merari, and Gershom. He tells the Levites to consecrate themselves and reminds them that the previous failure occurred because they had not followed the proper instructions. The Levites then carry the Ark on their shoulders using the poles provided for that purpose.
David also organizes an elaborate musical procession. Heman, Asaph, and Ethan are appointed as leading musicians. Other singers and musicians play cymbals, harps, lyres, and trumpets. Priests blow the trumpets, while other Levites serve as gatekeepers and oversee the transportation.
David, the elders, and military leaders participate in the procession. When God helps the Levites successfully carry the Ark, the people offer sacrifices of bulls and rams. David wears fine linen and dances with joy before God.
The Ark finally enters the City of David, and all Israel celebrates with shouting, music, and worship.
However, the chapter ends with a contrasting response. Michal, Saul's daughter and David's wife, sees David dancing and despises him in her heart. Her reaction introduces a personal and royal tension into what had otherwise been a joyful national celebration.
The central lesson of the chapter is that David has learned from his earlier mistake. His desire to honor God is now combined with careful obedience to God's instructions.
Main Message:
The successful arrival of the Ark in Jerusalem demonstrates that joyful worship must be joined with obedience, reverence, proper preparation, and faithful leadership.
David gathers representatives from the major Levitical families, including the descendants of Kohath, Merari, and Gershom. He tells the Levites to consecrate themselves and reminds them that the previous failure occurred because they had not followed the proper instructions. The Levites then carry the Ark on their shoulders using the poles provided for that purpose.
David also organizes an elaborate musical procession. Heman, Asaph, and Ethan are appointed as leading musicians. Other singers and musicians play cymbals, harps, lyres, and trumpets. Priests blow the trumpets, while other Levites serve as gatekeepers and oversee the transportation.
David, the elders, and military leaders participate in the procession. When God helps the Levites successfully carry the Ark, the people offer sacrifices of bulls and rams. David wears fine linen and dances with joy before God.
The Ark finally enters the City of David, and all Israel celebrates with shouting, music, and worship.
However, the chapter ends with a contrasting response. Michal, Saul's daughter and David's wife, sees David dancing and despises him in her heart. Her reaction introduces a personal and royal tension into what had otherwise been a joyful national celebration.
The central lesson of the chapter is that David has learned from his earlier mistake. His desire to honor God is now combined with careful obedience to God's instructions.
Main Message:
The successful arrival of the Ark in Jerusalem demonstrates that joyful worship must be joined with obedience, reverence, proper preparation, and faithful leadership.