Preparations to Move the Ark to Jerusalem

1And David made for himself houses in the city of David, and he prepared a place for the ark of God, and made a tent for it. 2Then said David, It is not lawful for any to bear the ark of God, but the Levites; for the Lord has chosen them to bear the ark of the Lord, and to minister to him for ever. 3And David assembled all Israel at Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the Lord to the place which he had prepared for it. 4And David gathered together the sons of Aaron the Levites. 5Of the sons of Caath; there was Uriel the chief, and his brethren, a hundred and twenty. 6Of the sons of Merari; Asaia the chief, and his brethren, two hundred and twenty. 7Of the sons of Gedson; Joel the chief, and his brethren, a hundred and thirty. 8Of the sons of Elisaphat; Semei the chief, and his brethren, two hundred. 9Of the sons of Chebrom; Eliel the chief, and his brethren eighty. 10Of the sons of Oziel; Aminadab the chief, and his brethren a hundred and twelve.

11And David called Sadoc and Abiathar the priests, and the Levites, Uriel, Asaia, and Joel, and Semaia, and Eliel, and Aminadab, 12and said to them, Ye are the heads of the families of the Levites: sanctify yourselves, you and your brethren, and ye shall carry up the ark of the God of Israel, to the place which I have prepared for it. 13For because ye were not ready at the first, our God made a breach upon us, because we sought him not according to the ordinance. 14So the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves, to bring up the ark of the God of Israel.

The Priests and Levites Carry the Ark

15And the sons of the Levites took the ark of God, (as Moses commanded by the word of God according to the scripture) upon their shoulders with staves.

16And David said to the chiefs of the Levites, Set your brethren the singers with musical instruments, lutes, harps, and cymbals, to sound aloud with a voice of joy. 17So the Levites appointed Aeman the son of Joel; Asaph the son of Barachias was one of his brethren; and Aethan the son of Kisaeus was of the sons of Merari their brethren; 18and with them their brethren of the second rank, Zacharias, and Oziel, and Semiramoth, and Jeiel, and Elioel, and Eliab, and Banaia, and Maasaia, and Matthathia, and Eliphena, and Makellia, and Abdedom, and Jeiel, and Ozias, the porters. 19And the singers, Aeman, Asaph, and Aethan, with brazen cymbals to make a sound to be heard. 20Zacharias, and Oziel, Semiramoth, Jeiel, Oni, Eliab, Maasaeas, Banaeas, with lutes, on alaemoth. 21And Mattathias, and Eliphalu, and Makenia, and Abdedom, and Jeiel, and Ozias, with harps of Amasenith, to make a loud noise. 22And Chonenia chief of the Levites was master of the bands, because he was skilful. 23And Barachia and Elcana were door-keepers of the ark. 24And Somnia, and Josaphat, and Nathanael, and Amasai, and Zacharia, and Banaea, and Eliezer, the priests, were sounding with trumpets before the ark of God: and Abdedom and Jeia were door-keepers of the ark of God.

Moving the Ark to Jerusalem

25So David, and the elders of Israel, and the captains of thousands, went to bring up the ark of the covenant from the house of Abdedom with gladness. 26And it came to pass when God strengthened the Levites bearing the ark of the covenant of the Lord, that they sacrificed seven calves and seven rams. 27And David was girt with a fine linen robe, and all the Levites who were bearing the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and the singers, and Chonenias the master of the band of singers; also upon David there was a robe of fine linen. 28And all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the Lord with shouting, and with the sound of a horn, and with trumpets, and with cymbals, playing loudly on lutes and harps.

29And the ark of the covenant of the Lord arrived, and came to the city of David; and Melchol the daughter of Saul looked down through the window, and saw king David dancing and playing: and she despised him in her heart.