1 Chronicles 15:1-17

NSB(i) 1 David constructed buildings for himself in the City of David. Then he prepared a place for God’s Ark and pitched a tent for it. 2 David insisted that only the Levites carry God’s Ark because Jehovah had chosen them to carry his Ark and to serve him from generation to generation. 3 David called together all Israel at Jerusalem to bring Jehovah’s Ark to the place he had prepared for it. 4 David also called together Aaron’s descendants and the Levites. 5 Leading Kohath’s descendants were Uriel, who came with one hundred and twenty of his relatives. 6 Leading Merari’s descendants were Asaiah, who came with two hundred and twenty of his relatives. 7 Leading Gershom’s descendants were Joel, who came with one hundred and thirty of his relatives. 8 Leading Elizaphan’s descendants were Shemaiah, who came with two hundred of his relatives. 9 Leading Hebron’s descendants were Eliel, who came with eighty of his relatives. 10 Leading Uzziel’s descendants were Amminadab, who came with one hundred and twelve of his relatives. 11 David called for the priests Zadok and Abiathar and for the Levites Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab. 12 He said to them: »You are the heads of the Levite families. You and your brothers must perform the ceremonies to make yourselves holy. Then bring the Ark of Jehovah the God of Israel to the place I prepared for it. 13 »Because you Levites were not there the first time, Jehovah our God struck us. We had not dedicated our lives to serving him in the way he designated.« 14 So the priests and the Levites made themselves holy in order to move the Ark of Jehovah the God of Israel. 15 The Levites carried God’s Ark on their shoulders. They used poles as Moses had commanded according to Jehovah’s instructions. 16 David told the Levite leaders to appoint some of their brothers to serve as musicians. They were expected to play music on harps, lyres, and cymbals to produce joyful music for singing. 17 So the Levites appointed Heman son of Joel, and from his relatives they appointed Asaph Berechiah’s son. From their own relatives, Merari’s descendants, they appointed Ethan son of Kushaiah.