1 Chronicles 15

David prepared a place for the Ark of God; v.1. &c. and chargeth the Levites to carry the Ark, 2. All Israel come to Jerusalem, to bring up the Ark thither, 3. The namems of the Levites that came thither for this end and purpose, 4. David giveth order to the chief of them, what they should do, and how they should do it, 11. They obey David, 14. This is done with great triumph ad Music, 16. Michal, Sauls daughter, spying David dancing and playing before the Ark, disdaineth him, 29.

1. And David made him houses in his city: [This was the uppermost part of the city of Jerusalem, which David had by force taken from the Jebusites: And it was called the city of David, because David had taken up there his dwelling-place. Hebr. and he made him houses in Davids city] And he prepared a place for the Ark of God, and pitched a tent for it. [see 2 Sam.6.v.17.]

2. Then 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. [see Num.4.15.]

3. Also David gathered all Israel together at Jerusalem: to bring up the Ark of the LORD unto its place, which he had prepared for it.

4. And David assembled the children [To wit, the posterity] of Aaron, and the Levites.

5. Of the children of Kebat, Uriel was the chief, and of his brethren [That is, kinsmen: and so in the following chapters] (there) were an hundred and twenty.

6. Of the children of Merari, Asaja was the chief, and of his brethren (there) were two hundred and twenty.

7. Of the children of Gersom, Joel was the chief, and of his brethren an hundred and thirty.

8. Of the children of Elizaphan [He was the son of Uzziel the son of Kehat, Exod.6.22.] Semaja was the chief, and of his brethren [to wit kinsmen] (there) were two hundred.

9. Of the children of Hebron, [He was a son of Kehat, Exod.6.17.] Eliel was the chief, and his brethren were fourscore.

10. Of the children of Uzziel, [He was also a son of Kehat, Exod.6.v.17.] Amminadab was the chief, and his brethren were an hundred and twelve. [these were other posterity of Uzziel, then are mentioned v.8. but they also called Uzziel their grand-father.]

11. And David called the Priests, Zadok and Abjather, [Or Abjathar, he was high Priests, and Zadok was next unto him, according to the order instituted by God, Num.3.32.] and levites, Uriel, Asaja, and Joel, Semaaja, and Eliel, and Amminadab.

12. And he said unto them, ye are heads of the Fathers among the Levites; hallow your selves, [That is, prepared your selves for this holy work, by outward ceremonial cleansing & purifying, but especially by cleanness and purity of heart. See Exod.19.10. and 15.] ye, and your brethren, that ye may bring up the Ark of the LORD the God of Israel, unto (the place which) I have prepared for it.

13. For because he (did) not (this) [Understand withal, but did put the ark into a cart, above chap.13.7.] at the first: [to wit, when I intended the ark should be brought into mione house, 1 Chron.13.10.] the LORD our God hath made a breach among us, [understand this of the death of Uza, above chap.13.10. 2 Sam.6.6.] because he sought him not according to (that which is) right. [or, after the manner; that is, as it is just and besitting, Numb.4.15.]

14. So then the Priests and Levites hallowed themselves, to bring up the ark of the LORD the God of Israel.

15. And the children of the Levites [To wit, that were of Kehats family. See Numb.4.4.] carried the ark of God upon their shouldiers, with the bearing-staves that were upon them, according as Moseh had commanded according to the word of the LORD. [see Exod.25.14. Num.4.15.& 7.9.]

16. And David said to the chief of the Levites, that they should appointed their brethren the singers with instruments of Musik, with Lutes, and Harps, and Cymbals, that they should cause them to be heard, lifting up the voice with cheerfulness.

17. So then the Levites appointed Heman the son of Joel, and out of his brethren Asaph the son of Berechja: And out of the sons of Merari their brethren, Ethan [otherwise called Jeduthun] the son of Rusaja.

18. And with them their brethren of the second order: [These following were a degree lower then the former three principal] Zecharja, Bea, and Joaziel, and Seniramoth, and Jehiel, and Unni, Eliab, and Benaja, and Maaseja, and Mattithja, and Eliphele, and Nikneja, and Obed-Edom, and Jeiel the porters.

19. Now the singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, [Otherwise called Jeduthun: his Father is called Kisi, 1 Chron.6.44.] caused themselves to be heard with copper Cymbals.

20. And Zecharja, and Aziel, [Called Jaziel v.18. Ben. Mentioned v.18. is here left out. Some think that it is Azazia, whereof v.21. Others, that it belonged to the name of Zacharia] and Seniramoth, and Jehiel, and Unni, and Eliab, and Maaseja, and Benaja, with Lutes upon Alamoth. [that is, with a maiden-like and woman-like voice, which Musicians call the Superius, or Treble: or the Altus, and Counters-tenor, which must be sung with a woman-like voice. Oth. With fine, or, clear voices. Oth. Upon the Virginals. Understand this according to the opinion of some; and so in the sequel.]

21. And Mattithja, and Eliphele, and Mikneja, and Obed-Edom, and Jeizel, and Azazia with harps upon the Scheminith, [So he calleth the Bassus, or Tenor, which indeed differ on octave or eight notes from the Superius or Counters-tenor. See Psa.6.1. with the annotate.] to strengthen the tune.

22. And Chenanja the chief of the Levites, was over the lifting up: [That is, of the voices, or of the song, as v.27. that is, he was singing-master, or master of the song, who gave order for the tunes and voices, and when the singers should lift up their voice, or begin to sing. See ver.27. Others conceive that he was the chiefest in the lifting up of the ark; that is, that he had the ordering and managing of it] he instructed them in the lifting up, [oth. He was chief in, etc.] for he was skilful.

23. And Berechja and Elkana were porters of the ark, [These, as is conceived, went immediately before the ark, And took care that no man should rush in upon it or come near unto it, as the door is kept, 24. Verse, there are two porters more named, which for the same end and purpose followed immediately after the ark of the covenant.]

24. And Sebanja, and Josaphat, and Nathaniel, and Amasai, and Zacharja, and Benaja, and Eliezer the Priests did blow with the trumpets before the Ark of God: And Obed-Edom, and Jehijah were porters of the ark.

25. Now it came to pass that David and the Eldest of Israel, and the commanders of thousands went to bring up the Ark of the covenant of the LORD, out of the house of Obed-Edom with joy.

26. So it came to pass, for as much as God helped the Levites that carried the ark of the LORD, that they offered seven Bullocks, and seven Rams.

27. Now David was cloathed with a mantle of finedinen, also all the Levites that carried the Ark, and the singers, and Chenanja the chief of the lifting up of the singers: [Oth. Of the song. Or thus: with the singers] Also David had altnen upper-garment on. [where with he covered his royal dignity and greatness before transcendened excellency and Majesty of God, behaving himself as the other servants and minister did in the service and worship of God. Heb. and upon David was an Ephod.]

28. So all Israel brought the Ark of the covenant of the LORD, with shouting, and with the sound of the Cornet, and with Trumpet, and with Cymbals, making a sound with lutes, and with Harps.

29. Now it came to pass when the Ark of the covenant of the LORD was come to the city of David: That Michal Sauls daughter looked thorough a window, and saw David leaping and playing; so she despised him in her heart.