1 Chronicles 15:1-21 ▼

1 David constructed buildings for himself in the City of David (beloved), and he prepared a place for the ark of God {Elohim} and pitched a tent for it.

2 Then David (beloved) said, “No one but the Levites may carry the ark of God {Elohim}, because the LORD {YHWH} has chosen them to carry the ark of the LORD and to minister before Him forever.”

3 And David (beloved) assembled all Israel (he wrestles with God) in Jerusalem (city of peace) to bring up the ark of the LORD {YHWH} to the place he had prepared for it.

4 Then he (beloved) gathered together the descendants of Aaron (light bringer) and the Levites:

5 From the Kohathites (assembly), Uriel (God is my light) the chief and 120 of his relatives;

6 from the Merarites (bitter), Asaiah (made by YHWH) the chief and 220 of his relatives;

7 from the Gershomites (Gershonites), Joel (YHWH is God) the chief and 130 of his relatives;

8 from the Elizaphanites (my God has protected), Shemaiah (heard by YHWH) the chief and 200 of his relatives;

9 from the Hebronites (association), Eliel (El is God) the chief and 80 of his relatives;

10 and from the Uzzielites (my strength is God), Amminadab (my kinsman is noble) the chief and 112 of his relatives.

11 David (beloved) summoned the priests Zadok (righteous) and Abiathar (my father is great) and the Levites Uriel (God is my light), Asaiah (made by YHWH), Joel (YHWH is God), Shemaiah (heard by YHWH), Eliel (El is God), and Amminadab (my kinsman is noble).

12 And he said to them, “You⁺ are the heads of the Levitical families. You⁺ and your⁺ relatives must consecrate yourselves so that you⁺ may bring the ark of the LORD, the God {YHWH Elohe} of Israel (he wrestles with God), to the place I have prepared for it.

13 It was because you⁺ Levites were not with us the first time that the LORD our God {YHWH Elohenu} burst forth in anger against us. For we did not consult Him about the proper order.”

14 So the priests and Levites consecrated themselves to bring up the ark of the LORD, the God {YHWH Elohe} of Israel (he wrestles with God).

15 And the Levites carried the ark of God {Elohim} on their shoulders with the poles, as Moses (drawn out) had commanded in accordance with the word of the LORD {YHWH}.

16 David also (beloved) told the leaders of the Levites to appoint their relatives as singers to lift up their voices with joy, accompanied by musical instruments—harps, lyres, and cymbals.

17 So the Levites appointed Heman (faithful) son of Joel (YHWH is God); from his brothers, Asaph (gatherer) son of Berechiah (YHWH blesses); from their brothers the Merarites (bitter), Ethan (enduring) son of Kushaiah (bow of YHWH);

18 and with them their brothers next in rank: Zechariah (YHWH remembers), Jaaziel (made bold by God), Shemiramoth (name of heights), Jehiel (God lives), Unni (afflicted), Eliab (God is father), Benaiah (YHWH has built up), Maaseiah (work of YHWH), Mattithiah (gift of YHWH), Eliphelehu (my God sets him apart), Mikneiah (possession of YHWH), and the gatekeepers Obed-edom (servant of Edom) and Jeiel [and Azaziah].

19 The musicians Heman (faithful), Asaph (gatherer), and Ethan (enduring) were to sound the bronze cymbals.

20 Zechariah (YHWH remembers), Aziel (Jaaziel), Shemiramoth (name of heights), Jehiel (God lives), Unni (afflicted), Eliab (God is father), Maaseiah (work of YHWH), and Benaiah (YHWH has built up) were to play the harps according to Alamoth (Alamoth).

21 And Mattithiah (gift of YHWH), Eliphelehu (my God sets him apart), Mikneiah (possession of YHWH), Obed-edom (servant of Edom), Jeiel (God sweeps away), and Azaziah (YHWH is mighty) were to lead the music with lyres according to Sheminith (Sheminith).