Preparing to Move the Ark
(2 Samuel 6:12–15)

1David constructed buildings for himself in the City of David (beloved), and he prepared a place for the ark of God {Elohim} and pitched a tent for it. 2Then David (beloved) said, “No one but the Levites may carry the ark of God {Elohim}, because the LORD {YHWH} has chosen them to carry the ark of the LORD and to minister before Him forever.”

3And David (beloved) assembled all Israel (he wrestles with God) in Jerusalem (city of peace) to bring up the ark of the LORD {YHWH} to the place he had prepared for it. 4Then he (beloved) gathered together the descendants of Aaron (light bringer) and the Levites:

5From the Kohathites (assembly), Uriel (God is my light) the chief and 120 of his relatives;

6from the Merarites (bitter), Asaiah (made by YHWH) the chief and 220 of his relatives;

7from the Gershomites (Gershonites),a Joel (YHWH is God) the chief and 130 of his relatives;

8from the Elizaphanites (my God has protected), Shemaiah (heard by YHWH) the chief and 200 of his relatives;

9from the Hebronites (association), Eliel (El is God) the chief and 80 of his relatives;

10and from the Uzzielites (my strength is God), Amminadab (my kinsman is noble) the chief and 112 of his relatives.

11David (beloved) summoned the priests Zadok (righteous) and Abiathar (my father is great) and the Levites Uriel (God is my light), Asaiah (made by YHWH), Joel (YHWH is God), Shemaiah (heard by YHWH), Eliel (El is God), and Amminadab (my kinsman is noble). 12And 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 {YHWH Elohe} of Israel (he wrestles with God), to the place I have prepared for it. 13It was because you⁺ Levites were not with us the first time that the LORD our God {YHWH Elohenu} burst forth in anger against us. For we did not consult Him about the proper order.”

The Priests and Levites Carry the Ark

14So the priests and Levites consecrated themselves to bring up the ark of the LORD, the God {YHWH Elohe} of Israel (he wrestles with God). 15And the Levites carried the ark of God {Elohim} on their shoulders with the poles, as Moses (drawn out) had commanded in accordance with the word of the LORD {YHWH}.

16David also (beloved) 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. 17So the Levites appointed Heman (faithful) son of Joel (YHWH is God); from his brothers, Asaph (gatherer) son of Berechiah (YHWH blesses); from their brothers the Merarites (bitter), Ethan (enduring) son of Kushaiah (bow of YHWH); 18and with them their brothers next in rank: Zechariah (YHWH remembers),b Jaaziel (made bold by God), Shemiramoth (name of heights), Jehiel (God lives), Unni (afflicted), Eliab (God is father), Benaiah (YHWH has built up), Maaseiah (work of YHWH), Mattithiah (gift of YHWH), Eliphelehu (my God sets him apart), Mikneiah (possession of YHWH), and the gatekeepers Obed-edom (servant of Edom) and Jeiel [and Azaziah].c

19The musicians Heman (faithful), Asaph (gatherer), and Ethan (enduring) were to sound the bronze cymbals. 20Zechariah (YHWH remembers), Aziel (Jaaziel),d Shemiramoth (name of heights), Jehiel (God lives), Unni (afflicted), Eliab (God is father), Maaseiah (work of YHWH), and Benaiah (YHWH has built up) were to play the harps according to Alamoth (Alamoth).e 21And Mattithiah (gift of YHWH), Eliphelehu (my God sets him apart), Mikneiah (possession of YHWH), Obed-edom (servant of Edom), Jeiel (God sweeps away), and Azaziah (YHWH is mighty) were to lead the music with lyres according to Sheminith (Sheminith).f 22Chenaniah (YHWH establishes) the head Levite (burden) was the director of the music because he was highly skilled.

23Berechiah (YHWH blesses) and Elkanah (God has possessed) were to be guardians \gatekeepers/g of the ark. 24Shebaniah (increased by YHWH), Joshaphat (YHWH judges), Nethanel (given of God), Amasai (burdensome), Zechariah (YHWH remembers), Benaiah (YHWH has built up), and Eliezer (God is my helper)—the priests—were to blow the trumpets before the ark of God {Elohim}. Obed-edom (servant of Edom) and Jehiah (YHWH lives) were also to be guardians of the ark.

Moving the Ark to Jerusalem

25So David (beloved), the elders of Israel (he wrestles with God), and the commanders of thousands went with rejoicing to bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD {YHWH} from the house of Obed-edom (servant of Edom). 26And because God {Elohim} helped the Levites who were carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD {YHWH}, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams.

27Now David (beloved) 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 (YHWH establishes), the director of music (burden) for the singers. David also wore a linen ephod. 28So all Israel (he wrestles with God) brought up the ark of the covenant of the LORD {YHWH} 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
(2 Samuel 6:16)

29As the ark of the covenant of the LORD {YHWH} was entering the City of David (beloved), Saul’s (desired) daughter Michal (who is like God) looked down from a window and saw King David dancing and celebrating, and she despised him in her heart.