1 David built houses for himself in the city of David. He prepared a place for the ark of God and set up a tent for it. 2 Then David said, “Only the Levites may carry the ark of God, for they had been chosen by Yahweh to carry the ark of Yahweh, and to serve him forever.” 3 Then David assembled all Israel at Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of Yahweh to the place he had prepared for it. 4 David gathered together Aaron's descendants and the Levites. 5 From the descendants of Kohath, there was Uriel the leader and his relatives, 120 men. 6 From the descendants of Merari, there was Asaiah the leader and his relatives, 220 men. 7 From the descendants of Gershom, there was Joel the leader and his relatives, 130 men. 8 From the descendants of Elizaphan, there was Shemaiah the leader and his relatives, 200 men. 9 From the descendants of Hebron, there was Eliel the leader and his relatives, eighty men. 10 From the descendants of Uzziel, there was Amminadab the leader and his relatives, 112 men. 11 David called for Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and the Levites Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab. 12 He said to them, “You are the leaders of the Levite families. Consecrate yourselves, both you and your brothers, so that you may bring up the ark of Yahweh, the God of Israel, to the place that I have prepared for it. 13 You did not carry it the first time. That is why Yahweh our God broke out against us, for we did not seek him or obey his decree.” 14 So the priests and the Levites consecrated themselves so they could bring up the ark of Yahweh, the God of Israel. 15 So the Levites carried the ark of God on their shoulders with the poles, as Moses had commanded—following the rules given by the word of Yahweh. 16 David spoke to the leaders of the Levites to assign their brothers to be musicians with musical instruments, stringed instruments, harps and cymbals, playing loudly and joyfully lifting up their voices. 17 So the Levites appointed Heman son of Joel and one of his brothers, Asaph son of Berechiah. They also appointed kinsmen from Merari's descendants and Ethan son of Kushaiah. 18 With them were their kinsmen of second rank: Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed Edom, and Jeiel, the gatekeepers. 19 The musicians Heman, Asaph, and Ethan were appointed to play loud bronze cymbals. 20 Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah played the stringed instruments, set to Alamoth. 21 Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed Edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah led the way with harps set to the Sheminith. 22 Kenaniah, leader of the Levites, was the director of the singing because he was a teacher of music. 23 Berechiah and Elkanah were guards for the ark. 24 Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer, the priests, were to blow the trumpets before the ark of God. Obed Edom and Jehiah were guards for the ark. 25 So David, the elders of Israel, and the commanders over thousands went to bring up the ark of the covenant of Yahweh out of Obed Edom's house with rejoicing. 26 While God helped the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of Yahweh, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams. 27 David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, as were the Levites who carried the ark, the singers, and Kenaniah, the leader of the song with the singers. David was wearing a linen ephod. 28 So all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of Yahweh with joyful shouting, and with the sound of horns and trumpets, with cymbals, and with stringed instruments and harps. 29 But as the ark of the covenant of Yahweh came to the city of David, Michal daughter of Saul, looked out the window. She saw King David dancing and celebrating. Then she despised him in her heart.
1 Chronicles · Unlocked Literal Bible
1 Chronicles 15 Unlocked Literal Bible
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
People & places in this chapter
From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.
People
Amasai
One of seven priests appointed to blow trumpets before the ark of God.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 15:24
Amminadab
Chief of the Uzzielites with 112 relatives, summoned to bring up the ark.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 15:10; 1 Chronicles 15:11
Asaiah
Chief of the Merarites with 220 relatives, summoned with the priests to bring up the ark.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 15:6; 1 Chronicles 15:11
Asaph
A Gershonite Levite and singer, son of Berechiah, Heman's kinsman who served at his right hand among the men David put in charge of the music in the house of the LORD.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 6:39; 1 Chronicles 9:15; 1 Chronicles 15:17
Azaziah
Among the Levites appointed to lead the music with lyres according to Sheminith.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 15:21
Benaiah
Among the Levite singers appointed to play harps according to Alamoth.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 15:18; 1 Chronicles 15:20; 1 Chronicles 16:5
Benaiah
A priest who blew the trumpets regularly before the ark of the covenant, together with Jahaziel.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 15:24; 1 Chronicles 16:6
Berechiah
Appointed with Elkanah to be a guardian of the ark.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 15:23
Berechiah
Berechiah is named as the son of Shimea in Asaph's Gershonite ancestry (1 Chronicles 6:39-43).
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 6:39; 1 Chronicles 15:17
Eliab
Among the Levite singers appointed to play harps according to Alamoth.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 15:18; 1 Chronicles 15:20; 1 Chronicles 16:5
Eliel
Chief of the Hebronites with 80 relatives, summoned to bring up the ark.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 15:9; 1 Chronicles 15:11
Eliezer
One of seven priests appointed to blow trumpets before the ark of God.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 15:24
Eliphelehu
Among the Levite singers appointed to lead with lyres according to Sheminith.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 15:18; 1 Chronicles 15:21
Elkanah
Appointed with Berechiah to be a guardian of the ark.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 15:23
Ethan
A Merarite Levite and singer, son of Kishi, whose kinsmen stood on the left of Heman and Asaph among the singers David appointed.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 6:44; 1 Chronicles 15:17; 1 Chronicles 15:19
Heman
A Kohathite Levite and singer, son of Joel and grandson of Samuel, among the men David put in charge of the music in the house of the LORD; his kinsman Asaph served at his right…
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 6:33; 1 Chronicles 15:17; 1 Chronicles 15:19
Jaaziel
Listed among the brothers appointed as singers in 15:18; the harp list in 15:20 gives the name as Aziel.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 15:18; 1 Chronicles 15:20
Jehiah
Appointed with Obed-edom to be a guardian of the ark.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 15:24
Jehiel
Among the Levite singers appointed to play harps according to Alamoth.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 15:18; 1 Chronicles 15:20; 1 Chronicles 16:5
Jeiel
Named with Obed-edom as a gatekeeper and among those appointed to lead with lyres; listed again in the ministry before the ark.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 15:18; 1 Chronicles 15:21; 1 Chronicles 16:5
Joel
Chief of the Gershomites with 130 relatives, summoned to bring up the ark.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 15:7; 1 Chronicles 15:11
Joshaphat
One of seven priests appointed to blow trumpets before the ark of God.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 15:24
Kishi
Kishi is named as the son of Abdi in Ethan's Merarite ancestry (1 Chronicles 6:44-47).
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 6:44; 1 Chronicles 15:17
Maaseiah
Among the Levite singers appointed to play harps according to Alamoth.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 15:18; 1 Chronicles 15:20
Mattithiah
Among the Levite singers appointed to lead with lyres according to Sheminith.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 15:18; 1 Chronicles 15:21; 1 Chronicles 16:5
Mikneiah
Among the Levite singers appointed to lead with lyres according to Sheminith.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 15:18; 1 Chronicles 15:21
Nethanel
One of seven priests appointed to blow trumpets before the ark of God.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 15:24
Shebaniah
One of seven priests appointed to blow trumpets before the ark of God.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 15:24
Shemaiah
Chief of the Elizaphanites with 200 relatives, summoned to bring up the ark.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 15:8; 1 Chronicles 15:11
Shemiramoth
Among the Levite singers appointed to play harps according to Alamoth.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 15:18; 1 Chronicles 15:20; 1 Chronicles 16:5
Unni
Among the Levite singers appointed to play harps according to Alamoth.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 15:18; 1 Chronicles 15:20
Uriel
Chief of the Kohathites with 120 relatives; David summoned him to consecrate the Levites for bringing up the ark.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 15:5; 1 Chronicles 15:11
Zechariah
Among the brothers of Heman, Asaph and Ethan, appointed to play harps according to Alamoth; second in rank under Asaph when the ministry before the ark began.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 15:18; 1 Chronicles 15:20; 1 Chronicles 16:5
Zechariah
One of seven priests appointed to blow trumpets before the ark of God.
Cited in the guide: 1 Chronicles 15:24
Cross references (29)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 1 Chronicles 16:1; Psalm 132:5; Acts 7:46; 1 Chronicles 15:3; 1 Chronicles 17:1–5
- 2 Deuteronomy 10:8; Deuteronomy 31:9; Numbers 18:1–8; Joshua 3:3; Numbers 8:24–26
- 3 1 Chronicles 13:5; 1 Kings 8:1; 2 Samuel 6:12; 1 Chronicles 15:1; 2 Samuel 6:17
- 4 1 Chronicles 6:16–30; 1 Chronicles 6:49–50; Exodus 6:16–22; Numbers 3:4; 1 Chronicles 12:26–28
- 5 1 Chronicles 6:22–24
- 6 1 Chronicles 6:29–30
- 7 1 Chronicles 15:11; 1 Chronicles 23:8
- 8 Exodus 6:22
- 9 Exodus 6:18; 1 Chronicles 26:30–31; 1 Chronicles 23:19; 1 Chronicles 26:23; 1 Chronicles 23:12
- 10 1 Chronicles 6:22; Exodus 6:22; 1 Chronicles 6:18; Exodus 6:18; 1 Chronicles 23:12
- 11 1 Chronicles 12:28; 1 Kings 2:35; 1 Samuel 22:20–23; 2 Samuel 20:25; 2 Samuel 8:17
- 12 2 Chronicles 35:6; Exodus 19:14–15; 1 Chronicles 15:14; Romans 12:1–2; 2 Chronicles 30:15
- 13 2 Samuel 6:3; 1 Corinthians 14:40; 1 Corinthians 11:2; 1 John 1:8–10; 2 Samuel 6:7–8
- 14 2 Chronicles 29:34; Leviticus 10:3; 2 Chronicles 29:15; Joel 2:16–17
- 15 Numbers 4:15; Numbers 7:9; Exodus 40:20; Exodus 25:12–15; Exodus 37:3–5
- 16 1 Chronicles 13:8; 1 Chronicles 16:42; 1 Chronicles 23:5; 2 Chronicles 5:13; Nehemiah 12:36
- 17 1 Chronicles 6:39; 1 Chronicles 6:33; 1 Chronicles 6:44; 1 Chronicles 15:19; 1 Samuel 8:2
- 18 1 Chronicles 26:4; 1 Chronicles 26:8; 1 Chronicles 25:9–31; 1 Chronicles 25:2–6; 1 Chronicles 13:14
- 19 1 Chronicles 25:6; 1 Chronicles 13:8; 1 Chronicles 16:42; 1 Chronicles 16:5; 1 Chronicles 15:16
- 20 Psalm 46:1–11
- 21 1 Chronicles 15:18; Psalm 150:3; Psalm 81:1–2; Psalm 92:3; Psalm 6:1–10
- 22 1 Chronicles 15:16; 1 Chronicles 15:27; 1 Chronicles 25:7–8
- 23 2 Kings 22:4; 2 Kings 25:18; Psalm 84:10; 1 Chronicles 9:21–23
- 24 1 Chronicles 16:6; 1 Chronicles 15:28; Numbers 10:8; 1 Chronicles 15:18; Joel 2:1
- 25 2 Samuel 6:12–23; Ezra 6:16; Micah 5:2; Philippians 3:3; 2 Chronicles 20:27–28
- 26 Numbers 23:29; Job 42:8; Psalm 66:13–15; 1 Chronicles 29:14; Ezekiel 45:23
- 27 2 Samuel 6:14; 1 Samuel 2:18
- 28 1 Chronicles 13:8; 1 Chronicles 15:16; 2 Chronicles 5:12–13; 2 Samuel 6:15; Psalm 150:3–5
- 29 2 Samuel 6:20–23; 2 Samuel 6:16; 2 Samuel 3:13–14; Psalm 69:7–9; Psalm 30:11
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences