1 Chronicles — Chapter 15

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1And David made him houses in the city of David, and prepared a place for the ark of God, and pitched for it a tent.

2Then David said, None ought to carry the ark of God but the Levites: for them hath the LORD chosen to carry the ark of God, and to minister unto him for ever.

3And David gathered all Israel together to Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the LORD unto his place, which he had prepared for it.

4And David assembled the children of Aaron, and the Levites:

5Of the sons of Kohath; Uriel the chief, and his brethren an hundred and twenty:

6Of the sons of Merari; Asaiah the chief, and his brethren two hundred and twenty:

7Of the sons of Gershom; Joel the chief, and his brethren an hundred and thirty:

8Of the sons of Elizaphan; Shemaiah the chief, and his brethren two hundred:

9Of the sons of Hebron; Eliel the chief, and his brethren fourscore:

10Of the sons of Uzziel; Amminadab the chief, and his brethren an hundred and twelve.

11And David called for Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and for the Levites, for Uriel, Asaiah, and Joel, Shemaiah, and Eliel, and Amminadab,

12And said unto them, Ye are the chief of the fathers of the Levites: sanctify yourselves, both ye and your brethren, that ye may bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel unto the place that I have prepared for it.

13For because ye did it not at the first, the LORD our God made a breach upon us, for that we sought him not after the due order.

14So the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel.

15And the children of the Levites bare the ark of God upon their shoulders with the staves thereon, as Moses commanded according to the word of the LORD.

16And David spake to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be the singers with instruments of musick, psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding, by lifting up the voice with joy.

17So the Levites appointed Heman the son of Joel; and of his brethren, Asaph the son of Berechiah; and of the sons of Merari their brethren, Ethan the son of Kushaiah;

18And with them their brethren 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 Obed-edom, and Jeiel, the porters.

19So the singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, were appointed to sound with cymbals of brass;

20And Zechariah, and Aziel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Unni, and Eliab, and Maaseiah, and Benaiah, with psalteries on Alamoth;

21And Mattithiah, and Elipheleh, and Mikneiah, and Obed-edom, and Jeiel, and Azaziah, with harps on the Sheminith to excel.

22And Chenaniah, chief of the Levites, was for song: he instructed about the song, because he was skilful.

23And Berechiah and Elkanah were doorkeepers for the ark.

24And 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 Obed-edom and Jehiah were doorkeepers for the ark.

25So 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 Obed-edom with joy.

26And it came to pass, when God helped the Levites that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, that they offered seven bullocks and seven rams.

27And David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, and all the Levites that bare the ark, and the singers, and Chenaniah the master of the song with the singers: David also had upon him an ephod of linen.

28Thus 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.

29And 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.

1And [David] made him houses in the city of David; and he prepared a place for the ark of God, and pitched for it a tent.

2Then David said, None ought to carry the ark of God but the Levites: for them hath Jehovah chosen to carry the ark of God, and to minister unto him for ever.

3And David assembled all Israel at Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of Jehovah unto its place, which he had prepared for it.

4And David gathered together the sons of Aaron, and the Levites:

5of the sons of Kohath, Uriel the chief, and his brethren a hundred and twenty;

6of the sons of Merari, Asaiah the chief, and his brethren two hundred and twenty;

7of the sons of Gershom, Joel the chief, and his brethren a hundred and thirty;

8of the sons of Elizaphan, Shemaiah the chief, and his brethren two hundred;

9of the sons of Hebron, Eliel the chief, and his brethren fourscore;

10of the sons of Uzziel, Amminadab the chief, and his brethren a hundred and twelve.

11And David called for Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and for the Levites, for Uriel, Asaiah, and Joel, Shemaiah, and Eliel, and Amminadab,

12and said unto them, Ye are the heads of the fathers` [houses] of the Levites: sanctify yourselves, both ye and your brethren, that ye may bring up the ark of Jehovah, the God of Israel, unto [the place] that I have prepared for it.

13For because ye [bare it] not at the first, Jehovah our God made a breach upon us, for that we sought him not according to the ordinance.

14So the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of Jehovah, the God of Israel.

15And the children of the Levites bare the ark of God upon their shoulders with the staves thereon, as Moses commanded according to the word of Jehovah.

16And David spake to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brethren the singers, with instruments of music, psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding aloud and lifting up the voice with joy.

17So the Levites appointed Heman the son of Joel; and of his brethren, Asaph the son of Berechiah; and of the sons of Merari their brethren, Ethan the son of Kushaiah;

18and with them their brethren of the second degree, Zechariah, Ben, and Jaaziel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Unni, Eliab, and Benaiah, and Maaseiah, and Mattithiah, and Eliphelehu, and Mikneiah, and Obed-edom, and Jeiel, the doorkeepers.

19So the singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, [were appointed] with cymbals of brass to sound aloud;

20and Zechariah, and Aziel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Unni, and Eliab, and Maaseiah, and Benaiah, with psalteries set to Alamoth;

21and Mattithiah, and Eliphelehu, and Mikneiah, and Obed-edom, and Jeiel, and Azaziah, with harps set to the Sheminith, to lead.

22And Chenaniah, chief of the Levites, was over the song: he instructed about the song, because he was skilful.

23And Berechiah and Elkanah were doorkeepers for the ark.

24And Shebaniah, and Joshaphat, and Nethanel, and Amasai, and Zechariah, and Benaiah, and Eliezer, the priests, did blow the trumpets before the ark of God: and Obed-edom and Jehiah were doorkeepers for the ark.

25So David, and the elders of Israel, and the captains over thousands, went to bring up the ark of the covenant of Jehovah out of the house of Obed-edom with joy.

26And it came to pass, when God helped the Levites that bare the ark of the covenant of Jehovah, that they sacrificed seven bullocks and seven rams.

27And David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, and all the Levites that bare the ark, and the singers, and Chenaniah the master of the song [with] the singers: and David had upon him an ephod of linen.

28Thus all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of Jehovah with shouting, and with sound of the cornet, and with trumpets, and with cymbals, sounding aloud with psalteries and harps.

29And it came to pass, as the ark of the covenant of Jehovah came to the city of David, that Michal the daughter of Saul looked out at the window, and saw king David dancing and playing; and she despised him in her heart.

1David constructed buildings in the City of David; he then prepared a place for the ark of God and pitched a tent for it.

2Then David said, “Only the Levites may carry the ark of God, for the Lord chose them to carry the ark of the Lord and to serve before him perpetually.”

3David assembled all Israel at Jerusalem to bring the ark of the Lord up to the place he had prepared for it.

4David gathered together the descendants of Aaron and the Levites:

5From the descendants of Kohath: Uriel the leader and 120 of his relatives.

6From the descendants of Merari: Asaiah the leader and 220 of his relatives.

7From the descendants of Gershom: Joel the leader and 130 of his relatives.

8From the descendants of Elizaphan: Shemaiah the leader and 200 of his relatives.

9From the descendants of Hebron: Eliel the leader and 80 of his relatives.

10From the descendants of Uzziel: Amminadab the leader and 112 of his relatives.

11David summoned the priests Zadok and Abiathar, along with the Levites Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab.

12He told them: “You are the leaders of the Levites’ families. You and your relatives must consecrate yourselves and bring the ark of the Lord God of Israel up to the place I have prepared for it.

13The first time you did not carry it; that is why the Lord God attacked us, because we did not ask him about the proper way to carry it.”

14The priests and Levites consecrated themselves so they could bring up the ark of the Lord God of Israel.

15The descendants of Levi carried the ark of God on their shoulders with poles, just as Moses had commanded in keeping with the Lord’s instruction.

16David told the leaders of the Levites to appoint some of their relatives as musicians; they were to play various instruments, including stringed instruments and cymbals, and to sing loudly and joyfully.

17So the Levites appointed Heman son of Joel; one of his relatives, Asaph son of Berechiah; one of the descendants of Merari, Ethan son of Kushaiah;

18along with some of their relatives who were second in rank, including Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, and Jeiel, the gatekeepers.

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

20Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah were to play the harps according to the alamoth style;

21Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah were to play the lyres according to the sheminith style, as led by the director;

22Kenaniah, the leader of the Levites, was in charge of transport, for he was well-informed on this matter;

23Berechiah and Elkanah were guardians of the ark;

24Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer the priests were to blow the trumpets before the ark of God; Obed-Edom and Jehiel were also guardians of the ark.

25So David, the leaders of Israel, and the commanders of units of a thousand went to bring up the ark of the Lord’s covenant from the house of Obed-Edom with celebration.

26When God helped the Levites who were carrying the ark of the Lord’s covenant, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams.

27David was wrapped in a linen robe, as were all the Levites carrying the ark, the musicians, and Kenaniah the supervisor of transport and the musicians; David also wore a linen ephod.

28All Israel brought up the ark of the Lord’s covenant; they were shouting, blowing trumpets, sounding cymbals, and playing stringed instruments.

29As the ark of the Lord’s covenant entered the City of David, Michal, Saul’s daughter, looked out the window. When she saw King David jumping and celebrating, she despised him.

1David made himself houses in David’s city; and he prepared a place for God’s ark, and pitched a tent for it.

2Then David said, “No one ought to carry God’s ark but the Levites. For Yahweh has chosen them to carry God’s ark, and to minister to him forever.”

3David assembled all Israel at Jerusalem, to bring up Yahweh’s ark to its place, which he had prepared for it.

4David gathered together the sons of Aaron and the Levites:

5of the sons of Kohath, Uriel the chief, and his brothers one hundred twenty;

6of the sons of Merari, Asaiah the chief, and his brothers two hundred twenty;

7of the sons of Gershom, Joel the chief, and his brothers one hundred thirty;

8of the sons of Elizaphan, Shemaiah the chief, and his brothers two hundred;

9of the sons of Hebron, Eliel the chief, and his brothers eighty;

10of the sons of Uzziel, Amminadab the chief, and his brothers one hundred twelve.

11David called for Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and for the Levites, for Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab,

12and said to them, “You are the heads of the fathers’ households of the Levites. Sanctify yourselves, both you and your brothers, that you may bring the ark of Yahweh, the God of Israel, up to the place that I have prepared for it.

13For because you didn’t carry it at first, Yahweh our God broke out in anger against us, because we didn’t seek him according to the ordinance.”

14So the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of Yahweh, the God of Israel.

15The children of the Levites bore God’s ark on their shoulders with its poles, as Moses commanded according to Yahweh’s word.

16David spoke to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brothers as singers with instruments of music, stringed instruments, harps, and cymbals, sounding aloud and lifting up their voices with joy.

17So 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;

18and with them their brothers of the second rank, Zechariah, Ben, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, and Jeiel, the doorkeepers.

19So the singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, were given cymbals of brass to sound aloud;

20and Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah, with stringed instruments set to Alamoth;

21and Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah, with harps tuned to the eight-stringed lyre, to lead.

22Chenaniah, chief of the Levites, was over the singing. He taught the singers, because he was skillful.

23Berechiah and Elkanah were doorkeepers for the ark.

24Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer, the priests, blew the trumpets before God’s ark; and Obed-Edom and Jehiah were doorkeepers for the ark.

25So David, the elders of Israel, and the captains over thousands, went to bring the ark of Yahweh’s covenant up out of the house of Obed-Edom with joy.

26When God helped the Levites who bore the ark of Yahweh’s covenant, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams.

27David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, as were all the Levites who bore the ark, the singers, and Chenaniah the choir master with the singers; and David had an ephod of linen on him.

28Thus all Israel brought the ark of Yahweh’s covenant up with shouting, with sound of the cornet, with trumpets, and with cymbals, sounding aloud with stringed instruments and harps.

29As the ark of Yahweh’s covenant came to David’s city, Michal the daughter of Saul looked out at the window, and saw king David dancing and playing; and she despised him in her heart.

Summary
Authorship & Background
Map & Geography
Commentary
Videos
Reflection

Summary

David successfully brings the ark to Jerusalem the proper way—carried by Levites on poles as Moses commanded—with great celebration, music, and sacrifices. Michal despises David's exuberant worship and is left childless as a result.

Authorship & Background

Author: Traditionally attributed to Ezra the scribe. Originally one book with 2 Chronicles. Written post-exile (approximately 450-400 BC) for the returned remnant. The Chronicler retells Israel's history from a priestly/worship perspective, emphasizing the Davidic covenant, Temple worship, and God's faithfulness. Key themes: genealogical continuity (God preserved His people), proper worship (the Temple and its services), the Davidic line (pointing to Messiah), and hope for restoration.
Historical Context: Chapter 15 records the successful second attempt to bring the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem. This stands in deliberate contrast to chapter 13, where Uzzah was struck dead for touching the ark because it was transported on a cart rather than carried by Levites as God had prescribed. David learned from that devastating failure. The key verse is verse 13: "For because ye did it not at the first, the LORD our God made a breach upon us, for that we sought him not after the due order." David now does everything according to God's prescribed method, assembling 862 Levites from six family groups and appointing skilled musicians to lead worship during the procession.
The Chronicler devotes far more attention to this event than 2 Samuel does (the parallel is 2 Samuel 6:12-23, which is much shorter). This expanded treatment reveals the Chronicler's pastoral purpose: teaching the post-exilic community that HOW we worship matters as much as THAT we worship. The returned remnant was rebuilding the Temple and reestablishing worship practices. They needed to understand that God's prescribed order for worship was not optional—sincere intentions (as David had in chapter 13) do not override God's revealed instructions.
The chapter also emphasizes the role of music in worship, detailing the appointment of singers, instrumentalists, and choir directors. This organizational detail was directly relevant to the post-exilic community as they reestablished Temple worship under Ezra and Nehemiah. The Levitical musicians—Heman, Asaph, and Ethan—would become the ancestors of the worship guilds that served in the Second Temple. The final verse records Michal despising David for his exuberant worship, presenting a warning against spiritual pride that judges genuine devotion.

Map & Geography

  • Largely parallels 1-2 Samuel geographically. Jerusalem (Zion/City of David) is the theological and political center.
  • Key sites: Hebron (David's first capital, 7 years), the threshing floor of Ornan/Araunah (future Temple site, ch.21).
  • Chapters 1-9 (genealogies) contain tribal allotments but minimal narrative geography.

Commentary

  • Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Guzik highlights David's growth between chapters 13 and 15, noting that David went from anger and fear to humble obedience. He emphasizes that David's preparation of the Levites shows how proper worship requires both right heart and right method—neither alone is sufficient.
  • Charles Spurgeon: "Mark well the difference between chapters thirteen and fifteen. In the first, David's heart was right but his method was wrong; the ark was placed upon a new cart after the fashion of the Philistines, and God smote Uzzah. In the second, David's heart was right AND his method was right; the Levites bore the ark upon their shoulders as God commanded. Let us learn this lesson well: sincerity without obedience is not acceptable worship. God will have His work done His way. The new cart of human invention—however well-intentioned, however convenient—will never replace the appointed shoulders of consecrated service. Many a church today rides the ark of truth upon the new cart of worldly methods and wonders why God does not bless."

Reflection

  • 1. Good intentions do not override God's instructions. David's first attempt to bring the ark was well-intentioned but disobedient in method. We must examine our worship, service, and Christian lives not only for sincerity of heart but for conformity to Scripture. The question is not merely "Do I mean well?" but "Am I doing this God's way?"
  • 2. Learn from failure and try again the right way. David did not abandon his desire to bring the ark to Jerusalem after the Uzzah tragedy. He went back to Scripture, learned the proper procedure, and tried again. Our past failures in ministry or obedience need not define our future. Repentance means doing it again, correctly.
  • 3. Worship requires both preparation and spontaneity. David carefully organized the Levites, singers, and musicians (preparation), but he also danced with all his might before the Lord (spontaneity). These are not contradictory. Ordered worship and heartfelt expression belong together. Structure without passion is dead; passion without structure is chaos.
  • 4. Do not let others' contempt diminish your worship. Michal despised David from her window, but David's worship was directed toward God, not toward human observers. When we worship authentically, some will misunderstand or mock. Their opinion is irrelevant if our audience is the Lord alone.
  • 5. Every believer has a role in corporate worship. The chapter details singers, instrumentalists, gatekeepers, and trumpet-blowers—each with a specific assignment. In the body of Christ, every member has a function in worship. The church needs both the visible leaders and the faithful gatekeepers who serve behind the scenes.