1 Chronicles 15 - Study the King James Bible

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

1Ch 15:1 And [David] made him houses in the city of David, and prepared a place for the ark of God, and pitched for it a tent.
Ver. 1. And prepared a place for the ark. ] This he had done before he fetched it to Obededom’s house. 1Ch 13:6 See 2 Samuel 6:17 .

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.

1Ch 15:2 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.
Ver. 2. None ought to carry the ark of God but the Levites. ] This should have been better considered before. The law was clear. Num 4:5-15 Wit is best, they say, when bought.

For ever. ] Let our lay preachers look to it. Ill accidents attend them, as did Uzzah and Uzziah.

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

1Ch 15:3 And David gathered all Israel together to Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the LORD unto his place, which he had prepared for it.
Ver. 3. To bring up the ark. ] For by this time he saw that the fault was not in the ark, but in their miscarriages.

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

1Ch 15:4 And David assembled the children of Aaron, and the Levites:
Ver. 4. And David assembled. ] That "all things" might now "be done decently and in order," by their advice and assistance.

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

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

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

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

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

10.

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

11.

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

1Ch 15:11 And David called for Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and for the Levites, for Uriel, Asaiah, and Joel, Shemaiah, and Eliel, and Amminadab,
Ver. 11. And David called for Zadok and Abiathar. ] These, and those chief captains that follow, were tanquam Ephori et directores totius deductionis, directors and principal doers.

12.

And 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.

1Ch 15:12 And 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.
Ver. 12. Sanctify yourselves. ] Outwardly and inwardly. Holy things are to be handled sancte magis quam scite.

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.

1Ch 15:13 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.
Ver. 13. God made a breach upon us. ] See on 1 Chronicles 13:9 .

For that we sought him not. ] David faulteth himself also.

After the due order. ] See on 1 Chronicles 13:12 .

14.

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

1Ch 15:14 So the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel.
Ver. 14. So the priests and Levites sanctified themselves. ] They replied not, We sufficiently understand our duties, and need not your instruction: but did as they were commanded.

15.

And 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.

16.

And 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.

1Ch 15:16 And 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.
Ver. 16. And David spake to the chief of the Levites ] From hence it appeareth, saith one, that this sacred music, vocal and instrumental, was in use even before David’s time; though there be no mention made of it in the law: but David did afterwards illustrate it. 1Ch 25:1-7

17.

So 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;

18.

And 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.

19.

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

20.

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

1Ch 15:20 And Zechariah, and Aziel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Unni, and Eliab, and Maaseiah, and Benaiah, with psalteries on Alamoth;
Ver. 20. On Alamoth. ] See Trapp on " Psa 46:1 " Title

21.

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

1Ch 15:21 And Mattithiah, and Elipheleh, and Mikneiah, and Obededom, and Jeiel, and Azaziah, with harps on the Sheminith to excel.
Ver. 21. Upon Sheminith. ] See Trapp on " Psa 6:1 " Title

22.

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

1Ch 15:22 And Chenaniah, chief of the Levites, [was] for song: he instructed about the song, because he [was] skilful.
Ver. 22. Because he was skilful. ] In music: and haply in other arts also.

23.

And Berechiah and Elkanah were doorkeepers for the ark.

1Ch 15:23 And Berechiah and Elkanah [were] doorkeepers for the ark.
Ver. 23. Were doorkeepers. ] To keep off any such as would rush rudely upon the ark. Procul, o procul este profani; Stand off.

24.

And 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.

25.

So 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.

1Ch 15:25 So 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 Obededom with joy.
Ver. 25. With joy. ] All God’s services must be performed with joy, or else they lose their lustre.

26.

And 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.

1Ch 15:26 And 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.
Ver. 26. When God helped the Levites that bare the ark. ] So helped them, say the Rabbis, that they felt not any weight thereof upon their shoulders. Rather God helped there, that is, he not only spared them - Uzzah met not with such a mercy - but enabled them and relieved them. Will he not do as much for his faithful ministers

That they offered seven bullocks, ] viz., At every sixth pace, 2Sa 6:13 because Uzzah perished when he had gone but six paces, say some. Every man that seeth another stricken, and himseff spared, is to offer sacrifice, yea, to keep a passover for himself.

27.

And 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.

28.

Thus 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.

29.

And 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.