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1 Chronicles 15-16
Common English Bible
1 Chronicles 15-16
Common English Bible
David prepares to bring the chest to Jerusalem
15 After he had built houses for himself in David’s City, David prepared a place for God’s chest and pitched a tent for it. 2 David said, “Only the Levites may carry God’s chest, because the Lord has chosen them to carry the Lord’s chest and to minister to him forever.”
3 David assembled all Israel in Jerusalem to bring the Lord’s chest to the place he had prepared for it. 4 David also gathered Aaron’s family and the Levites:
5 Uriel, the leader of Kohath’s family, and 120 of his relatives;
6 Asaiah, the leader of Merari’s family, and 220 of his relatives;
7 Joel, the leader of Gershom’s family, and 130 of his relatives;
8 Shemaiah, the leader of Elizaphan’s family, and 200 of his relatives;
9 Eliel, the leader of Hebron’s family, and 80 of his relatives;
10 and Amminadab, the leader of Uzziel’s family, and 112 of his relatives.
11 David called for the priests Zadok and Abiathar, and the Levites Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab. 12 He said to them, “You are the household heads of the Levites. Make yourselves holy, you and your brothers, and then bring the chest of the Lord, Israel’s God, to the place I’ve prepared for it. 13 When you weren’t with us the first time, the Lord our God burst out against us because we didn’t ask his advice properly.” 14 So the priests and the Levites made themselves holy to bring up the chest of the Lord, Israel’s God. 15 The Levites carried God’s chest with poles on their shoulders, just as Moses had commanded according to the Lord’s word.
16 Then David told the leaders of the Levites to appoint some of their relatives as singers to raise their voices joyfully, accompanied by musical instruments, including harps, lyres, and cymbals.
17 So the Levites appointed Heman, Joel’s son; and from his relatives, Asaph, Berechiah’s son; and from their Merarite relatives, Ethan, Kushaiah’s son; 18 and second in rank with them their relatives: Zechariah, Jaaziel,[a] Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, and Obed-edom and Jeiel the gatekeepers.
19 The singers Heman, Asaph, and Ethan were to make music with bronze cymbals.
20 Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah were to play harps tuned to the Alamoth.
21 Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah were to lead with lyres tuned to the Sheminith.
22 Chenaniah was leader of the Levites who provided transportation,[b] because he was skilled at it.
23 Berechiah and Elkanah were gatekeepers for the chest.
24 The priests Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer were to blow the trumpets before God’s chest. Obed-edom and Jehiah also were to be gatekeepers for the chest.
David brings the chest to Jerusalem
25 Then David, along with Israel’s elders and the captains of the thousands, went with rejoicing to bring up the chest containing the Lord’s covenant from Obed-edom’s house. 26 Since God had helped the Levites who were carrying the chest containing the Lord’s covenant, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams. 27 David wore a fine-linen robe, as did the singers, all the Levites who were carrying the chest, and Chenaniah, the leader of transportation.[c] David also wore a linen priestly vest.[d] 28 So all Israel brought up the chest containing the Lord’s covenant with shouts of joy, accompanied by the blast of the ram’s horn, by trumpets and cymbals, and playing on harps and lyres. 29 As the chest containing the Lord’s covenant entered David’s City, Michal, Saul’s daughter, looked out the window. When she saw King David leaping and dancing, she lost all respect for him.
16 They brought in God’s chest and placed it inside the tent David had pitched for it. Then they brought entirely burned offerings and well-being sacrifices before God. 2 When David had finished offering the entirely burned offerings and the well-being sacrifices, he blessed the people in the Lord’s name 3 and distributed a loaf of bread, a piece of meat,[e] and a raisin cake to every Israelite man and woman.
David establishes worship
4 David appointed some of the Levites to serve before the Lord’s chest in order to remember, to give thanks, and to praise the Lord, Israel’s God: 5 Asaph was the leader, and Zechariah his assistant; also Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-edom, and Jeiel with harps and lyres; Asaph sounding the cymbals; 6 and the priests Benaiah and Jahaziel blowing trumpets regularly before the chest containing God’s covenant. 7 On the same day, for the first time, David ordered Asaph and his relatives to give thanks to the Lord.
David’s song of praise
8 Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name;
make his deeds known to all people!
9 Sing to God, sing praises to him;
dwell on all his wondrous works!
10 Give praise to God’s holy name!
Let the hearts of all those seeking the Lord rejoice!
11 Pursue the Lord and his strength;
seek his face always!
12 Remember the wondrous works he has done,
all his marvelous works,
and the justice he declared—
13 you who are the offspring of Israel, his servant,
and the children of Jacob, his chosen ones.
14 The Lord—he is our God.
His justice is everywhere throughout the whole world.
15 God remembers[f] his covenant forever,
the word he commanded to a thousand generations,
16 which he made with Abraham,
the solemn pledge he swore to Isaac.
17 God set it up as binding law for Jacob,
as an eternal covenant for Israel,
18 promising, “I hereby give you the land of Canaan
as your allotted inheritance.”
19 When they[g] were few in number—
insignificant, just immigrants—
20 wandering from nation to nation,
from one kingdom to the next,
21 God didn’t let anyone oppress them.
God punished kings for their sake:
22 “Don’t touch my anointed ones;
don’t harm my prophets!”
23 Sing to the Lord, all the earth!
Share the news of his saving work every single day!
24 Declare God’s glory among the nations;
declare his wondrous works among all people
25 because the Lord is great and so worthy of praise.
He is awesome beyond all other gods
26 because all the gods of the nations are just idols,
but it is the Lord who created heaven!
27 Greatness and grandeur are in front of him;
strength and joy are in his place.
28 Give to the Lord, all families of the nations—
give to the Lord glory and power!
29 Give to the Lord the glory due his name!
Bring gifts! Enter his presence!
Bow down to the Lord
in his holy splendor!
30 Tremble before him, all the earth!
Yes, he set the world firmly in place;[h]
it won’t be shaken.
31 Let heaven celebrate!
Let the earth rejoice!
Let the nations say, “The Lord rules!”
32 Let the sea and everything in it roar!
Let the countryside and everything in it celebrate!
33 Then the trees of the forest will shout out joyfully
before the Lord, because he is coming
to establish justice on earth!
34 Give thanks to the Lord because he is good,
because his faithful love endures forever.
35 Say: “Save us, God, our savior!
Gather us! Deliver us from among the nations
so we can give thanks to your holy name
and rejoice in your praise.”
36 Bless the Lord, Israel’s God,
from forever in the past to forever always.
And let all the people say, “Amen!”
Praise the Lord!
37 Then David placed Asaph and his relatives, together with Obed-edom and sixty-eight of his relatives, to minister there continually before the chest containing the Lord’s covenant, following the routines required on each day. 38 Obed-edom, Jeduthun’s son, and Hosah served as gatekeepers. 39 David also placed the priest Zadok and his other priestly relatives at the Lord’s dwelling at the shrine in Gibeon. 40 They were to offer continually, both morning and evening, entirely burned offerings to the Lord on the altar for entirely burned offerings, following the written requirements in the Lord’s Instruction, which he had given Israel. 41 With them were Heman and Jeduthun and the rest of those chosen by name to give thanks to the Lord, because his faithful love lasts forever. 42 With them were also[i] the trumpets and the cymbals for the musicians and the instruments for God’s songs. Jeduthun’s family was at the gate. 43 Then all of the people left for their homes. And David returned to bless his household.
Footnotes
- 1 Chronicles 15:18 LXX; MT Jaaziel’s son
- 1 Chronicles 15:22 Heb uncertain
- 1 Chronicles 15:27 MT adds the singers.
- 1 Chronicles 15:27 Heb ephod
- 1 Chronicles 16:3 Cf LXX, Syr, Vulg; Heb uncertain
- 1 Chronicles 16:15 LXX; MT Remember
- 1 Chronicles 16:19 LXX, Vulg; MT when you were
- 1 Chronicles 16:30 LXX; MT the world is firmly established
- 1 Chronicles 16:42 LXX; MT adds Heman and Jeduthun.
1 Chronicles 15-16
New International Version
1 Chronicles 15-16
New International Version
The Ark Brought to Jerusalem(A)
15 After David had constructed buildings for himself in the City of David, he prepared(B) a place for the ark of God and pitched(C) a tent for it. 2 Then David said, “No one but the Levites(D) may carry(E) the ark of God, because the Lord chose them to carry the ark of the Lord and to minister(F) before him forever.”
3 David assembled all Israel(G) in Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the Lord to the place he had prepared for it. 4 He called together the descendants of Aaron and the Levites:(H)
5 From the descendants of Kohath,
Uriel(I) the leader and 120 relatives;
6 from the descendants of Merari,
Asaiah the leader and 220 relatives;
7 from the descendants of Gershon,[a]
Joel the leader and 130 relatives;
8 from the descendants of Elizaphan,(J)
Shemaiah the leader and 200 relatives;
9 from the descendants of Hebron,(K)
Eliel the leader and 80 relatives;
10 from the descendants of Uzziel,
Amminadab the leader and 112 relatives.
11 Then David summoned Zadok(L) and Abiathar(M) the priests, and Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel and Amminadab the Levites. 12 He said to them, “You are the heads of the Levitical families; you and your fellow Levites are to consecrate(N) yourselves and bring up the ark of the Lord, the God of Israel, to the place I have prepared for it. 13 It was because you, the Levites,(O) did not bring it up the first time that the Lord our God broke out in anger against us.(P) We did not inquire of him about how to do it in the prescribed way.(Q)” 14 So the priests and Levites consecrated themselves in order to bring up the ark of the Lord, the God of Israel. 15 And the Levites carried the ark of God with the poles on their shoulders, as Moses had commanded(R) in accordance with the word of the Lord.(S)
16 David(T) told the leaders of the Levites(U) to appoint their fellow Levites as musicians(V) to make a joyful sound with musical instruments: lyres, harps and cymbals.(W)
17 So the Levites appointed Heman(X) son of Joel; from his relatives, Asaph(Y) son of Berekiah; and from their relatives the Merarites,(Z) Ethan son of Kushaiah; 18 and with them their relatives next in rank: Zechariah,[b] Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom(AA) and Jeiel,[c] the gatekeepers.
19 The musicians Heman,(AB) Asaph and Ethan were to sound the bronze cymbals; 20 Zechariah, Jaaziel,[d] Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah and Benaiah were to play the lyres according to alamoth,[e] 21 and Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, Jeiel and Azaziah were to play the harps, directing according to sheminith.[f] 22 Kenaniah the head Levite was in charge of the singing; that was his responsibility because he was skillful at it.
23 Berekiah and Elkanah were to be doorkeepers for the ark. 24 Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah and Eliezer the priests were to blow trumpets(AC) before the ark of God. Obed-Edom and Jehiah were also to be doorkeepers for the ark.
25 So David and the elders of Israel and the commanders of units of a thousand went to bring up the ark(AD) of the covenant of the Lord from the house of Obed-Edom, with rejoicing. 26 Because God had helped the Levites who were carrying the ark of the covenant of the Lord, seven bulls and seven rams(AE) were sacrificed. 27 Now David was clothed in a robe of fine linen, as were all the Levites who were carrying the ark, and as were the musicians, and Kenaniah, who was in charge of the singing of the choirs. David also wore a linen ephod.(AF) 28 So all Israel(AG) brought up the ark of the covenant of the Lord with shouts,(AH) with the sounding of rams’ horns(AI) and trumpets, and of cymbals, and the playing of lyres and harps.
29 As the ark of the covenant of the Lord was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David dancing and celebrating, she despised him in her heart.
Ministering Before the Ark(AJ)(AK)(AL)
16 They brought the ark of God and set it inside the tent that David had pitched(AM) for it, and they presented burnt offerings and fellowship offerings before God. 2 After David had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, he blessed(AN) the people in the name of the Lord. 3 Then he gave a loaf of bread, a cake of dates and a cake of raisins(AO) to each Israelite man and woman.
4 He appointed some of the Levites to minister(AP) before the ark of the Lord, to extol,[g] thank, and praise the Lord, the God of Israel: 5 Asaph was the chief, and next to him in rank were Zechariah, then Jaaziel,[h] Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-Edom and Jeiel. They were to play the lyres and harps, Asaph was to sound the cymbals, 6 and Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests were to blow the trumpets regularly before the ark of the covenant of God.
7 That day David first appointed Asaph and his associates to give praise(AQ) to the Lord in this manner:
8 Give praise(AR) to the Lord, proclaim his name;
make known among the nations(AS) what he has done.
9 Sing to him, sing praise(AT) to him;
tell of all his wonderful acts.
10 Glory in his holy name;(AU)
let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
11 Look to the Lord and his strength;
seek(AV) his face always.
12 Remember(AW) the wonders(AX) he has done,
his miracles,(AY) and the judgments he pronounced,
13 you his servants, the descendants of Israel,
his chosen ones, the children of Jacob.
14 He is the Lord our God;
his judgments(AZ) are in all the earth.
15 He remembers[i](BA) his covenant forever,
the promise he made, for a thousand generations,
16 the covenant(BB) he made with Abraham,
the oath he swore to Isaac.
17 He confirmed it to Jacob(BC) as a decree,
to Israel as an everlasting covenant:
18 “To you I will give the land of Canaan(BD)
as the portion you will inherit.”
19 When they were but few in number,(BE)
few indeed, and strangers in it,
20 they[j] wandered(BF) from nation to nation,
from one kingdom to another.
21 He allowed no one to oppress them;
for their sake he rebuked kings:(BG)
22 “Do not touch my anointed ones;
do my prophets(BH) no harm.”
23 Sing to the Lord, all the earth;
proclaim his salvation day after day.
24 Declare his glory(BI) among the nations,
his marvelous deeds among all peoples.
25 For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;(BJ)
he is to be feared(BK) above all gods.(BL)
26 For all the gods of the nations are idols,
but the Lord made the heavens.(BM)
27 Splendor and majesty are before him;
strength and joy are in his dwelling place.
28 Ascribe to the Lord, all you families of nations,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.(BN)
29 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;(BO)
bring an offering and come before him.
Worship the Lord in the splendor of his[k] holiness.(BP)
30 Tremble(BQ) before him, all the earth!
The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved.(BR)
31 Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;(BS)
let them say among the nations, “The Lord reigns!(BT)”
32 Let the sea resound, and all that is in it;(BU)
let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them!
33 Let the trees(BV) of the forest sing,
let them sing for joy before the Lord,
for he comes to judge(BW) the earth.
34 Give thanks(BX) to the Lord, for he is good;(BY)
his love endures forever.(BZ)
35 Cry out, “Save us, God our Savior;(CA)
gather us and deliver us from the nations,
that we may give thanks to your holy name,
and glory in your praise.”
36 Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,(CB)
from everlasting to everlasting.
Then all the people said “Amen” and “Praise the Lord.”
37 David left Asaph and his associates before the ark of the covenant of the Lord to minister there regularly, according to each day’s requirements.(CC) 38 He also left Obed-Edom(CD) and his sixty-eight associates to minister with them. Obed-Edom son of Jeduthun, and also Hosah,(CE) were gatekeepers.
39 David left Zadok(CF) the priest and his fellow priests before the tabernacle of the Lord at the high place in Gibeon(CG) 40 to present burnt offerings to the Lord on the altar of burnt offering regularly, morning and evening, in accordance with everything written in the Law(CH) of the Lord, which he had given Israel. 41 With them were Heman(CI) and Jeduthun and the rest of those chosen and designated by name to give thanks to the Lord, “for his love endures forever.” 42 Heman and Jeduthun were responsible for the sounding of the trumpets and cymbals and for the playing of the other instruments for sacred song.(CJ) The sons of Jeduthun(CK) were stationed at the gate.
43 Then all the people left, each for their own home, and David returned home to bless his family.
Footnotes
- 1 Chronicles 15:7 Hebrew Gershom, a variant of Gershon
- 1 Chronicles 15:18 Three Hebrew manuscripts and most Septuagint manuscripts (see also verse 20 and 16:5); most Hebrew manuscripts Zechariah son and or Zechariah, Ben and
- 1 Chronicles 15:18 Hebrew; Septuagint (see also verse 21) Jeiel and Azaziah
- 1 Chronicles 15:20 See verse 18; Hebrew Aziel, a variant of Jaaziel.
- 1 Chronicles 15:20 Probably a musical term
- 1 Chronicles 15:21 Probably a musical term
- 1 Chronicles 16:4 Or petition; or invoke
- 1 Chronicles 16:5 See 15:18,20; Hebrew Jeiel, possibly another name for Jaaziel.
- 1 Chronicles 16:15 Some Septuagint manuscripts (see also Psalm 105:8); Hebrew Remember
- 1 Chronicles 16:20 One Hebrew manuscript, Septuagint and Vulgate (see also Psalm 105:12); most Hebrew manuscripts inherit, / 19 though you are but few in number, / few indeed, and strangers in it.” / 20 They
- 1 Chronicles 16:29 Or Lord with the splendor of
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