New Living Translation NLT
The Message Bible MSG
1 David now built several buildings for himself in the City of David. He also prepared a place for the Ark of God and set up a special tent for it.
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After David built houses for himself in the City of David, he cleared a place for the Chest and pitched a tent for it.
2 Then he commanded, “No one except the Levites may carry the Ark of God. The LORD has chosen them to carry the Ark of the LORD and to serve him forever.”
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Then David gave orders: "No one carries the Chest of God except the Levites; God designated them and them only to carry the Chest of God and be available full time for service in the work of worship."
3 Then David summoned all Israel to Jerusalem to bring the Ark of the LORD to the place he had prepared for it.
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David then called everyone in Israel to assemble in Jerusalem to bring up the Chest of God to its specially prepared place.
4 This is the number of the descendants of Aaron (the priests) and the Levites who were called together:
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David also called in the family of Aaron and the Levites.
5 From the clan of Kohath, 120, with Uriel as their leader.
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From the family of Kohath, Uriel the head with 120 relatives;
6 From the clan of Merari, 220, with Asaiah as their leader.
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from the family of Merari, Asaiah the head with 220 relatives;
7 From the clan of Gershon, 130, with Joel as their leader.
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from the family of Gershon, Joel the head with 130 relatives;
8 From the descendants of Elizaphan, 200, with Shemaiah as their leader.
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from the family of Elizaphan, Shemaiah the head with 200 relatives;
9 From the descendants of Hebron, 80, with Eliel as their leader.
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from the family of Hebron, Eliel the head with 80 relatives;
10 From the descendants of Uzziel, 112, with Amminadab as their leader.
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from the family of Uzziel, Amminadab the head with 112 relatives.
11 Then David summoned the priests, Zadok and Abiathar, and these Levite leaders: Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab.
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Then David called in Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab the Levites.
12 He said to them, “You are the leaders of the Levite families. You must purify yourselves and all your fellow Levites, so you can bring the Ark of the LORD, the God of Israel, to the place I have prepared for it.
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He said, "You are responsible for the Levitical families; now consecrate yourselves, both you and your relatives, and bring up the Chest of the God of Israel to the place I have set aside for it.
13 Because you Levites did not carry the Ark the first time, the anger of the LORD our God burst out against us. We failed to ask God how to move it properly.”
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The first time we did this, you Levites did not carry it properly, and God exploded in anger at us because we didn't make proper preparation and follow instructions."
14 So the priests and the Levites purified themselves in order to bring the Ark of the LORD, the God of Israel, to Jerusalem.
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So the priests and Levites consecrated themselves to bring up the Chest of the God of Israel.
15 Then the Levites carried the Ark of God on their shoulders with its carrying poles, just as the LORD had instructed Moses.
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The Levites carried the Chest of God exactly as Moses, instructed by God, commanded - carried it with poles on their shoulders, careful not to touch it with their hands.
16 David also ordered the Levite leaders to appoint a choir of Levites who were singers and musicians to sing joyful songs to the accompaniment of harps, lyres, and cymbals.
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David ordered the heads of the Levites to assign their relatives to sing in the choir, accompanied by a well-equipped marching band, and fill the air with joyful sound.
17 So the Levites appointed Heman son of Joel along with his fellow Levites: Asaph son of Berekiah, and Ethan son of Kushaiah from the clan of Merari.
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The Levites assigned Heman son of Joel, and from his family, Asaph son of Berekiah, then Ethan son of Kushaiah from the family of Merari,
18 The following men were chosen as their assistants: Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, and the gatekeepers—Obed-edom and Jeiel.
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and after them in the second rank their brothers Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, and Jeiel as security guards.
19 The musicians Heman, Asaph, and Ethan were chosen to sound the bronze cymbals.
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The members of the choir and marching band were: Heman, Asaph, and Ethan with bronze cymbals;
20 Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah were chosen to play the harps.
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Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah with lyres carrying the melody;
21 Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah were chosen to play the lyres.
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Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah with harps filling in the harmony;
22 Kenaniah, the head Levite, was chosen as the choir leader because of his skill.
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Kenaniah, the Levite in charge of music, a very gifted musician, was music director.
23 Berekiah and Elkanah were chosen to guard the Ark.
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Berekiah and Elkanah were porters for the Chest.
24 Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer—all of whom were priests—were chosen to blow the trumpets as they marched in front of the Ark of God. Obed-edom and Jehiah were chosen to guard the Ark.
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The priests Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer blew the trumpets before the Chest of God. Obed-Edom and Jehiah were also porters for the Chest.
25 Then David and the elders of Israel and the generals of the army went to the house of Obed-edom to bring the Ark of the LORD ’s Covenant up to Jerusalem with a great celebration.
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Now they were ready. David, the elders of Israel, and the commanders of thousands started out to get the Chest of the Covenant of God and bring it up from the house of Obed-Edom. And they went rejoicing.
26 And because God was clearly helping the Levites as they carried the Ark of the LORD ’s Covenant, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams.
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Because God helped the Levites, strengthening them as they carried the Chest of the Covenant of God, they paused to worship by sacrificing seven bulls and seven rams.
27 David was dressed in a robe of fine linen, as were all the Levites who carried the Ark, and also the singers, and Kenaniah the choir leader. David was also wearing a priestly garment.
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They were all dressed in elegant linen - David, the Levites carrying the Chest, the choir and band, and Kenaniah who was directing the music. David also wore a linen prayer shawl (called an ephod).
28 So all Israel brought up the Ark of the LORD ’s Covenant with shouts of joy, the blowing of rams’ horns and trumpets, the crashing of cymbals, and loud playing on harps and lyres.
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On they came, all Israel on parade bringing up the Chest of the Covenant of God, shouting and cheering, playing every kind of brass and percussion and string instrument.
29 But as the Ark of the LORD ’s Covenant entered the City of David, Michal, the daughter of Saul, looked down from her window. When she saw King David skipping about and laughing with joy, she was filled with contempt for him.
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When the Chest of the Covenant of God entered the City of David, Michal, Saul's daughter, was watching from a window. When she saw King David dancing ecstatically she was filled with contempt.
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Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.