Preparing to Move the Ark
וַיַּֽעַשׂ־ל֥וֹ בָתִּ֖ים בְּעִ֣יר דָּוִ֑יד וַיָּ֤כֶן מָקוֹם֙ לַֽאֲר֣וֹן הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים וַיֶּט־ל֖וֹ אֹֽהֶל׃
David constructed buildings for himself in the City of David, and he prepared a place for the ark of God and pitched a tent for it.
אָ֚ז אָמַ֣ר דָּוִ֔יד לֹ֤א לָשֵׂאת֙ אֶת־אֲר֣וֹן הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים כִּ֖י אִם־הַלְוִיִּ֑ם כִּי־בָ֣ם׀ בָּחַ֣ר יְהוָ֗ה לָשֵׂ֞את אֶת־אֲר֧וֹן יְהוָ֛ה וּֽלְשָׁרְת֖וֹ עַד־עוֹלָֽם׃ ס
Then David said, “No one but the Levites may carry the ark of God, because the LORD has chosen them to carry the ark of the LORD and to minister before Him forever.”
וַיַּקְהֵ֥ל דָּוִ֛יד אֶת־כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל אֶל־יְרֽוּשָׁלִָ֑ם לְהַעֲלוֹת֙ אֶת־אֲר֣וֹן יְהוָ֔ה אֶל־מְקוֹמ֖וֹ אֲשֶׁר־הֵכִ֥ין לֽוֹ׃
And David assembled all Israel in Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the LORD to the place he had prepared for it.
וַיֶּאֱסֹ֥ף דָּוִ֛יד אֶת־בְּנֵ֥י אַֽהֲרֹ֖ן וְאֶת־הַלְוִיִּֽם׃
Then he gathered together the descendants of Aaron and the Levites:
לִבְנֵ֖י קְהָ֑ת אוּרִיאֵ֣ל הַשָּׂ֔ר וְאֶחָ֖יו מֵאָ֥ה וְעֶשְׂרִֽים׃ ס
From the Kohathites, Uriel the chief and 120 of his relatives;
לִבְנֵ֖י מְרָרִ֑י עֲשָׂיָ֣ה הַשָּׂ֔ר וְאֶחָ֖יו מָאתַ֥יִם וְעֶשְׂרִֽים׃ ס
from the Merarites, Asaiah the chief and 220 of his relatives;
לִבְנֵ֖י גֵּרְשׁ֑וֹם יוֹאֵ֣ל הַשָּׂ֔ר וְאֶחָ֖יו מֵאָ֥ה וּשְׁלֹשִֽׁים׃ ס
from the Gershomites, Joel the chief and 130 of his relatives;
לִבְנֵ֖י אֱלִֽיצָפָ֑ן שְׁמַֽעְיָ֥ה הַשָּׂ֖ר וְאֶחָ֥יו מָאתָֽיִם׃ ס
from the Elizaphanites, Shemaiah the chief and 200 of his relatives;
לִבְנֵ֖י חֶבְר֑וֹן אֱלִיאֵ֥ל הַשָּׂ֖ר וְאֶחָ֥יו שְׁמוֹנִֽים׃ ס
from the Hebronites, Eliel the chief and 80 of his relatives;
לִבְנֵ֖י עֻזִּיאֵ֑ל עַמִּינָדָ֣ב הַשָּׂ֔ר וְאֶחָ֕יו מֵאָ֖ה וּשְׁנֵ֥ים עָשָֽׂר׃ ס
and from the Uzzielites, Amminadab the chief and 112 of his relatives.
וַיִּקְרָ֣א דָוִ֔יד לְצָד֥וֹק וּלְאֶבְיָתָ֖ר הַכֹּֽהֲנִ֑ים וְלַלְוִיִּ֗ם לְאֽוּרִיאֵ֤ל עֲשָׂיָה֙ וְיוֹאֵ֣ל שְׁמַֽעְיָ֔ה וֶאֱלִיאֵ֖ל וְעַמִּינָדָֽב׃
David summoned the priests Zadok and Abiathar and the Levites Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab.
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לָהֶ֔ם אַתֶּ֛ם רָאשֵׁ֥י הָאָב֖וֹת לַלְוִיִּ֑ם הִֽתְקַדְּשׁוּ֙ אַתֶּ֣ם וַאֲחֵיכֶ֔ם וְהַֽעֲלִיתֶ֗ם אֵ֣ת אֲר֤וֹן יְהוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֶל־הֲכִינ֖וֹתִי לֽוֹ׃
And he said to them, “You are the heads of the Levitical families. You and your relatives must consecrate yourselves so that you may bring the ark of the LORD, the God of Israel, to the place I have prepared for it.
כִּ֛י לְמַבָּרִ֥אשׁוֹנָ֖ה לֹ֣א אַתֶּ֑ם פָּרַ֨ץ יְהוָ֤ה אֱלֹהֵ֙ינוּ֙ בָּ֔נוּ כִּי־לֹ֥א דְרַשְׁנֻ֖הוּ כַּמִּשְׁפָּֽט׃
It was because you Levites were not with us the first time that the LORD our God burst forth in anger against us. For we did not consult Him about the proper order.”
The Priests and Levites Carry the Ark
וַיִּֽתְקַדְּשׁ֔וּ הַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים וְהַלְוִיִּ֑ם לְהַעֲל֕וֹת אֶת־אֲר֥וֹן יְהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
So the priests and Levites consecrated themselves to bring up the ark of the LORD, the God of Israel.
וַיִּשְׂא֣וּ בְנֵֽי־הַלְוִיִּ֗ם אֵ֚ת אֲר֣וֹן הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר צִוָּ֥ה מֹשֶׁ֖ה כִּדְבַ֣ר יְהוָ֑ה בִּכְתֵפָ֥ם בַּמֹּט֖וֹת עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃ פ
And the Levites carried the ark of God on their shoulders with the poles, as Moses had commanded in accordance with the word of the LORD.
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר דָּוִיד֮ לְשָׂרֵ֣י הַלְוִיִּם֒ לְהַֽעֲמִ֗יד אֶת־אֲחֵיהֶם֙ הַמְשֹׁ֣רְרִ֔ים בִּכְלֵי־שִׁ֛יר נְבָלִ֥ים וְכִנֹּר֖וֹת וּמְצִלְתָּ֑יִם מַשְׁמִיעִ֥ים לְהָרִֽים־בְּק֖וֹל לְשִׂמְחָֽה׃ פ
David also told the leaders of the Levites to appoint their relatives as singers to lift up their voices with joy, accompanied by musical instruments—harps, lyres, and cymbals.
וַיַּעֲמִ֣ידוּ הַלְוִיִּ֗ם אֵ֚ת הֵימָ֣ן בֶּן־יוֹאֵ֔ל וּמִ֨ן־אֶחָ֔יו אָסָ֖ף בֶּן־בֶּֽרֶכְיָ֑הוּ ס וּמִן־בְּנֵ֤י מְרָרִי֙ אֲחֵיהֶ֔ם אֵיתָ֖ן בֶּן־קֽוּשָׁיָֽהוּ׃
So the Levites appointed Heman son of Joel; from his brothers, Asaph son of Berechiah; from their brothers the Merarites, Ethan son of Kushaiah;
וְעִמָּהֶ֖ם אֲחֵיהֶ֣ם הַמִּשְׁנִ֑ים זְכַרְיָ֡הוּ בֵּ֡ן וְיַֽעֲזִיאֵ֡ל וּשְׁמִֽירָמ֡וֹת וִיחִיאֵ֣ל׀ וְעֻנִּ֡י אֱלִיאָ֡ב וּבְנָיָ֡הוּ וּמַֽעֲשֵׂיָ֡הוּ וּמַתִּתְיָהוּ֩ וֶאֱלִ֨יפְלֵ֜הוּ וּמִקְנֵיָ֨הוּ וְעֹבֵ֥ד אֱדֹ֛ם וִֽיעִיאֵ֖ל הַשֹּׁעֲרִֽים׃
and with them their brothers next in rank: Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, and the gatekeepers Obed-edom and Jeiel.
וְהַמְשֹׁ֣רְרִ֔ים הֵימָ֥ן אָסָ֖ף וְאֵיתָ֑ן בִּמְצִלְתַּ֥יִם נְחֹ֖שֶׁת לְהַשְׁמִֽיעַ׃
The musicians Heman, Asaph, and Ethan were to sound the bronze cymbals.
וּזְכַרְיָ֨ה וַעֲזִיאֵ֜ל וּשְׁמִֽירָמ֤וֹת וִֽיחִיאֵל֙ וְעֻנִּ֣י וֶֽאֱלִיאָ֔ב וּמַעֲשֵׂיָ֖הוּ וּבְנָיָ֑הוּ בִּנְבָלִ֖ים עַל־עֲלָמֽוֹת׃
Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah were to play the harps according to Alamoth.
וּמַתִּתְיָ֣הוּ וֶאֱלִֽיפְלֵ֗הוּ וּמִקְנֵיָ֙הוּ֙ וְעֹבֵ֣ד אֱדֹ֔ם וִֽיעִיאֵ֖ל וַעֲזַזְיָ֑הוּ בְּכִנֹּר֥וֹת עַל־הַשְּׁמִינִ֖ית לְנַצֵּֽחַ׃
And Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah were to lead the music with lyres according to Sheminith.
וּכְנַנְיָ֥הוּ שַֽׂר־הַלְוִיִּ֖ם בְּמַשָּׂ֑א יָסֹר֙ בַּמַּשָּׂ֔א כִּ֥י מֵבִ֖ין הֽוּא׃
Chenaniah the head Levite was the director of the music because he was highly skilled.
וּבֶֽרֶכְיָה֙ וְאֶלְקָנָ֔ה שֹׁעֲרִ֖ים לָאָרֽוֹן׃
Berechiah and Elkanah were to be guardians of the ark.
וּשְׁבַנְיָ֡הוּ וְיֽוֹשָׁפָ֡ט וּנְתַנְאֵ֡ל וַעֲמָשַׂ֡י וּ֠זְכַרְיָהוּ וּבְנָיָ֤הוּ וֶֽאֱלִיעֶ֙זֶר֙ הַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים מַחְצְרִים֙ בַּחֲצֹ֣צְר֔וֹת לִפְנֵ֖י אֲר֣וֹן הָֽאֱלֹהִ֑ים וְעֹבֵ֤ד אֱדֹם֙ וִֽיחִיָּ֔ה שֹׁעֲרִ֖ים לָאָרֽוֹן׃
Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer—the priests—were to blow the trumpets before the ark of God. Obed-edom and Jehiah were also to be guardians of the ark.
Moving the Ark to Jerusalem
וַיְהִ֥י דָוִ֛יד וְזִקְנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל וְשָׂרֵ֣י הָאֲלָפִ֑ים הַהֹֽלְכִ֗ים לְֽהַעֲל֞וֹת אֶת־אֲר֧וֹן בְּרִית־יְהוָ֛ה מִן־בֵּ֥ית עֹבֵֽד־אֱדֹ֖ם בְּשִׂמְחָֽה׃ ס
So David, the elders of Israel, and the commanders of thousands went with rejoicing to bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD from the house of Obed-edom.
וַֽיְהִי֙ בֶּעְזֹ֣ר הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים אֶ֨ת־הַלְוִיִּ֔ם נֹשְׂאֵ֖י אֲר֣וֹן בְּרִית־יְהוָ֑ה וַיִּזְבְּח֥וּ שִׁבְעָֽה־פָרִ֖ים וְשִׁבְעָ֥ה אֵילִֽים׃
And because God helped the Levites who were carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams.
וְדָוִ֞יד מְכֻרְבָּ֣ל׀ בִּמְעִ֣יל בּ֗וּץ וְכָל־הַלְוִיִּם֙ הַנֹּשְׂאִ֣ים אֶת־הָאָר֔וֹן וְהַמְשֹׁ֣רְרִ֔ים וּכְנַנְיָ֛ה הַשַּׂ֥ר הַמַּשָּׂ֖א הַמְשֹֽׁרְרִ֑ים וְעַל־דָּוִ֖יד אֵפ֥וֹד בָּֽד׃
Now David was dressed in a robe of fine linen, as were all the Levites who were carrying the ark, as well as the singers and Chenaniah, the director of music for the singers. David also wore a linen ephod.
וְכָל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל מַעֲלִים֙ אֶת־אֲר֣וֹן בְּרִית־יְהוָ֔ה בִּתְרוּעָה֙ וּבְק֣וֹל שׁוֹפָ֔ר וּבַחֲצֹצְר֖וֹת וּבִמְצִלְתָּ֑יִם מַשְׁמִעִ֕ים בִּנְבָלִ֖ים וְכִנֹּרֽוֹת׃
So all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the LORD with shouting, with the sounding of rams’ horns and trumpets, and with cymbals and the music of harps and lyres.
Michal’s Contempt for David
וַיְהִ֗י אֲרוֹן֙ בְּרִ֣ית יְהוָ֔ה בָּ֖א עַד־עִ֣יר דָּוִ֑יד וּמִיכַ֨ל בַּת־שָׁא֜וּל נִשְׁקְפָ֣ה׀ בְּעַ֣ד הַחַלּ֗וֹן וַתֵּ֨רֶא אֶת־הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ דָּוִיד֙ מְרַקֵּ֣ד וּמְשַׂחֵ֔ק וַתִּ֥בֶז ל֖וֹ בְּלִבָּֽהּ׃ פ
As the ark of the covenant of the LORD was entering the City of David, Saul’s daughter Michal looked down from a window and saw King David dancing and celebrating, and she despised him in her heart.