Revised Standard Version RSV
The Message Bible MSG
1 David built houses for himself in the city of David; and he prepared a place for the ark of God, and pitched a 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 David said, "No one but the Levites may carry the ark of God, for the LORD chose them to carry the ark of the LORD and to minister to him for ever."
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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 And David assembled all Israel at Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the LORD to its place, which 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 And David gathered together the sons of Aaron and the Levites:
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David also called in the family of Aaron and the Levites.
5 of the sons of Kohath, Uri'el the chief, with a hundred and twenty of his brethren;
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From the family of Kohath, Uriel the head with 120 relatives;
6 of the sons of Merar'i, Asai'ah the chief, with two hundred and twenty of his brethren;
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from the family of Merari, Asaiah the head with 220 relatives;
7 of the sons of Gershom, Jo'el the chief, with a hundred and thirty of his brethren;
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from the family of Gershon, Joel the head with 130 relatives;
8 of the sons of Eli-za'phan, Shemai'ah the chief, with two hundred of his brethren;
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from the family of Elizaphan, Shemaiah the head with 200 relatives;
9 of the sons of Hebron, Eli'el the chief, with eighty of his brethren;
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from the family of Hebron, Eliel the head with 80 relatives;
10 of the sons of Uz'ziel, Ammin'adab the chief, with a hundred and twelve of his brethren.
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from the family of Uzziel, Amminadab the head with 112 relatives.
11 Then David summoned the priests Zadok and Abi'athar, and the Levites Uri'el, Asai'ah, Jo'el, Shemai'ah, Eli'el, and Ammin'adab,
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Then David called in Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab the Levites.
12 and said to them, "You are the heads of the fathers' houses of the Levites; sanctify yourselves, you and your brethren, so that you may bring up the ark of the LORD, the God of Israel, to the place that 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 did not carry it the first time, the LORD our God broke forth upon us, because we did not care for it in the way that is ordained."
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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 sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of the LORD, the God of Israel.
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So the priests and Levites consecrated themselves to bring up the Chest of the God of Israel.
15 And the Levites carried the ark of God upon their shoulders with the poles, as Moses had commanded according to the word of the LORD.
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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 commanded the chiefs of the Levites to appoint their brethren as the singers who should play loudly on musical instruments, on harps and lyres and cymbals, to raise sounds of joy.
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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 the son of Jo'el; and of his brethren Asaph the son of Berechi'ah; and of the sons of Merar'i, their brethren, Ethan the son of Kusha'iah;
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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 and with them their brethren of the second order, Zechari'ah, Ja-a'ziel, Shemi'ramoth, Jehi'el, Unni, Eli'ab, Benai'ah, Ma-asei'ah, Mattithi'ah, Eliph'elehu, and Miknei'ah, and the gatekeepers O'bed-e'dom and Je-i'el.
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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 singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, were to sound bronze cymbals;
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The members of the choir and marching band were: Heman, Asaph, and Ethan with bronze cymbals;
20 Zechari'ah, A'zi-el, Shemi'ramoth, Jehi'el, Unni, Eli'ab, Ma-asei'ah, and Benai'ah were to play harps according to Al'amoth;
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Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah with lyres carrying the melody;
21 but Mattithi'ah, Eliph'elehu, Miknei'ah, O'bed-e'dom, Je-i'el, and Azazi'ah were to lead with lyres according to the Shem'inith.
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Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah with harps filling in the harmony;
22 Chenani'ah, leader of the Levites in music, should direct the music, for he understood it.
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Kenaniah, the Levite in charge of music, a very gifted musician, was music director.
23 Berechi'ah and Elka'nah were to be gatekeepers for the ark.
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Berekiah and Elkanah were porters for the Chest.
24 Shebani'ah, Josh'aphat, Nethan'el, Ama'sai, Zechari'ah, Benai'ah, and Elie'zer, the priests, should blow the trumpets before the ark of God. O'bed-e'dom and Jehi'ah also were to be gatekeepers for 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 So David and the elders of Israel, and the commanders of thousands, went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD from the house of O'bed-e'dom with rejoicing.
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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 helped the Levites who were carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD, 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 clothed with a robe of fine linen, as also were all the Levites who were carrying the ark, and the singers, and Chenani'ah the leader of the music of the singers; and David wore a linen ephod.
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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 covenant of the LORD with shouting, to the sound of the horn, trumpets, and cymbals, and made loud music 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 And as the ark of the covenant of the LORD came to the city of David, Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window, and saw King David dancing and making merry; and she despised him in her heart.
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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.