1 David built houses for himself in the city of David, and he set in order a place {makom: designated site} for the ark of God {Elohim, Covenant Presence}, and he spread a tent over it.
2 Then David said, “The ark of God {Elohim: Supreme Authority} must not be carried by anyone except the Levites, because the LORD {YHWH: Worship Ordainer} chose them to carry the ark of the LORD and to serve Him forever.”
3 David gathered all Israel at Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the LORD {YHWH, Worship Center} to its place {meqomo: designated location}, which he had made ready for it.
4 And David {Dawid: anointed king} gathered the sons of Aaron and the Levites {haLeviim: temple ministers}.
5 To the sons of Kohath, Uriel the leader {hasar: chief officer} and his brothers {echav: close kinsmen} numbered one hundred and twenty.
6 From the sons {livnei: lineage designation} of Merari, Asaiah the leader {hasar: clan head} and his brothers numbered 220.
7 Of the sons of Gershom, Joel the chief {hasar: leader and representative} and his brothers, one hundred {meah: base hundred} and thirty.
8 To the sons {libnei: clan subdivisions} of Elizaphan: Shemaiah the chief and his brothers—two hundred {maatayim: dual numeral}.
9 To the descendants {livnei: lineage group} of Hebron, Eliel the leader {sar: chief/commander}, and his brothers—eighty in total.
10 To the sons of Uzziel, Amminadab the chief{hasar: leading official} and his brothers{ach: close male relatives}, one hundred and twelve.
11 And David summoned Zadok and Abiathar, the priests {kohanim: ritual priests}, and the Levites {leviyim: temple assistants}—Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab.
12 He said to them, “You are the heads {rashei: lineage chiefs} of the Levitical households. Make yourselves holy, both you and your brothers, and bring up the ark of the LORD {YHWH, Covenant Presence}, the God of Israel {Elohei Yisrael, National Protector}, to the place I have prepared for it.”
13 For when you did not do it the first time, the LORD our God {YHWH Eloheinu, Covenant Judge} broke out against us, because we did not inquire of Him according to the ordinance {mishpat: legal ordinance}.
14 So the priests and the Levites consecrated themselves to bring up the ark {aron: sacred chest} of the LORD {YHWH, Covenant Guardian}, the God of Israel {Elohei Yisrael, National Protector}.
15 The sons of the Levites carried the ark of God {Elohim, Holy Dwelling} on their shoulders with the poles upon them, just as Moses {Mosheh: appointed leader} commanded, in keeping with the word of the LORD {YHWH, Covenant Guide}.
16 David {Dawid: King of Israel} told the chiefs of the Levites to appoint their brothers, the singers, with instruments of song—lyres, harps, and cymbals—so they would sound out, lifting their voices in joy {simchah: festival gladness}.
17 The Levites {leviim: temple servants} appointed {wayyaamidu: set in charge} Heman son of Joel, and from his brothers Asaph son of Berechyahu; and from the sons of Merari, their brothers, Ethan son of Kushayahu.
18 And with them were their brothers, the second rank {mishnim: secondary tier}: Zechariah, Ben, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-edom, and Jeiel, the gatekeepers {shoarim: sanctuary guards}.
19 And the singers {m'shorerim: temple musicians} Heman, Asaph, and Ethan were with bronze cymbals {nechoshet: bronze alloy} to make the sound heard by all.
20 Zecharyah {zecharyah: remembered by God}, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah played the harps in the alamoth {alamoth: high register}.
21 And Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah with lyres were to lead {lenatzeach: musically oversee} according to Sheminith {sheminith: eighth-octave arrangement}.
22 And Kenaniah {kenanyahu: Levite Supervisor}, chief of the Levites, was in charge of the carrying {massa: ark-bearing}; he instructed in the carrying, because he was understanding.
23 And Berechiah and Elkanah were gatekeepers {shoarim: entrance guards} for the ark {aron: holy chest}.
24 Shebaniah, Jehoshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer—the priests—blew trumpets before the ark of God {Elohim, Divine Dwelling}. Obed-Edom and Jehiya were doorkeepers for the ark {aron: sacred chest}.
25 And David, the elders of Israel, and the commanders of thousands, who were going to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD{YHWH, Worship Receiver} from the house of Obed-Edom, did so with joy{simchah: festive gladness}.
26 And it happened, when God {Elohim, Strength In Service} helped the Levites who were bearing the Ark of the covenant of the LORD {YHWH, Covenant Presence}, that they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams.
27 And David was clothed in a robe {me’il: ceremonial garment} of fine linen, and all the Levites carrying the ark, the singers, and Kenaniah the master of the song with the singers wore the same attire. David also wore a linen ephod {efod: priestly vestment}.
28 And all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the LORD {YHWH, Covenant King} with shouting {teruah: jubilant blast} and with the sound of the shofar, and with trumpets and with cymbals, making themselves heard with lyres and harps.
29 And it happened, as the ark of the covenant of the LORD {YHWH, Divine Presence} came to the city of David, that Michal, daughter of Saul, looked out through the window and saw King David dancing and celebrating, and she despised him in her heart {lev: inner being, motives}.