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

1  וַיַּֽעַשׂ־ (And he built) ל֥וֹ (for himself) בָתִּ֖ים (houses) בְּעִ֣יר (in the City) דָּוִ֑יד (of David), וַיָּ֤כֶן (and he prepared) מָקוֹם֙ (a place) לַֽאֲר֣וֹן (for the ark) הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים (of God) וַיֶּט־ (and pitched) ל֖וֹ (for it) אֹֽהֶל׃ (a tent). 2  אָ֚ז (Then) אָמַ֣ר (said) דָּוִ֔יד (David), לֹ֤א (No one) לָשֵׂאת֙ (may carry) אֶת־ (-) אֲר֣וֹן (the ark) הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים (of God) כִּ֖י (but) אִם־ (only) הַלְוִיִּ֑ם (the Levites). כִּי־ (For) בָ֣ם׀ (them) בָּחַ֣ר (has chosen) יְהוָ֗ה (YHWH) לָשֵׂ֞את (to carry) אֶת־ (-) אֲר֧וֹן (the ark) יְהוָ֛ה (of YHWH) וּֽלְשָׁרְת֖וֹ (and to minister before Him) עַד־ (even to) עוֹלָֽם׃ס (forever).

3  וַיַּקְהֵ֥ל (And gathered together) דָּוִ֛יד (David) אֶת־ (-) כָּל־ (all) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (Israel) אֶל־ (to) יְרֽוּשָׁלִָ֑ם (Jerusalem) לְהַעֲלוֹת֙ (to bring up) אֶת־ (-) אֲר֣וֹן (the ark) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH) אֶל־ (to) מְקוֹמ֖וֹ (its place), אֲשֶׁר־ (which) הֵכִ֥ין (he had prepared) לֽוֹ׃ (for it). 4  וַיֶּאֱסֹ֥ף (And gathered) דָּוִ֛יד (David) אֶת־ (-) בְּנֵ֥י (the sons) אַֽהֲרֹ֖ן (of Aaron) וְאֶת־ (and) הַלְוִיִּֽם׃ (the Levites):

5  לִבְנֵ֖י (Of the sons) קְהָ֑ת (of Kohath): אוּרִיאֵ֣ל (Uriel) הַשָּׂ֔ר (the chief), וְאֶחָ֖יו (and of his brothers) מֵאָ֥ה (a hundred) וְעֶשְׂרִֽים׃ס (and twenty);

6  לִבְנֵ֖י (of the sons) מְרָרִ֑י (of Merari): עֲשָׂיָ֣ה (Asaiah) הַשָּׂ֔ר (the chief), וְאֶחָ֖יו (and of his brothers) מָאתַ֥יִם (two hundred) וְעֶשְׂרִֽים׃ס (and twenty);

7  לִבְנֵ֖י (of the sons) גֵּרְשׁ֑וֹם (of Gershom): יוֹאֵ֣ל (Joel) הַשָּׂ֔ר (the chief), וְאֶחָ֖יו (and of his brothers) מֵאָ֥ה (a hundred) וּשְׁלֹשִֽׁים׃ס (and thirty);

8  לִבְנֵ֖י (of the sons) אֱלִֽיצָפָ֑ן (of Elizaphan): שְׁמַֽעְיָ֥ה (Shemaiah) הַשָּׂ֖ר (the chief), וְאֶחָ֥יו (and of his brothers) מָאתָֽיִם׃ס (two hundred);

9  לִבְנֵ֖י (of the sons) חֶבְר֑וֹן (of Hebron): אֱלִיאֵ֥ל (Eliel) הַשָּׂ֖ר (the chief), וְאֶחָ֥יו (and of his brothers) שְׁמוֹנִֽים׃ס (eighty);

10  לִבְנֵ֖י (of the sons) עֻזִּיאֵ֑ל (of Uzziel): עַמִּינָדָ֣ב (Amminadab) הַשָּׂ֔ר (the chief), וְאֶחָ֕יו (and of his brothers) מֵאָ֖ה (a hundred) וּשְׁנֵ֥ים (and two) עָשָֽׂר׃ס (and ten).

11  וַיִּקְרָ֣א (And called) דָוִ֔יד (David) לְצָד֥וֹק (to Zadok) וּלְאֶבְיָתָ֖ר (and Abiathar) הַכֹּֽהֲנִ֑ים (the priests), וְלַלְוִיִּ֗ם (and to the Levites), לְאֽוּרִיאֵ֤ל (to Uriel), עֲשָׂיָה֙ (Asaiah), וְיוֹאֵ֣ל (and Joel), שְׁמַֽעְיָ֔ה (Shemaiah), וֶאֱלִיאֵ֖ל (and Eliel), וְעַמִּינָדָֽב׃ (and Amminadab), 12  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (and He said) לָהֶ֔ם (to them), אַתֶּ֛ם (You⁺) רָאשֵׁ֥י (are heads) הָאָב֖וֹת (of the fathers) לַלְוִיִּ֑ם (of the Levites). הִֽתְקַדְּשׁוּ֙ (Sanctify yourselves), אַתֶּ֣ם (you⁺) וַאֲחֵיכֶ֔ם (and your⁺ brothers), וְהַֽעֲלִיתֶ֗ם (that you⁺ may bring up) אֵ֣ת (-) אֲר֤וֹן (the ark) יְהוָה֙ (of YHWH) אֱלֹהֵ֣י (God) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel) אֶל־ (to where) הֲכִינ֖וֹתִי (I have prepared) לֽוֹ׃ (for it). 13  כִּ֛י (Because) לְמַבָּרִ֥אשׁוֹנָ֖ה (and at the first) לֹ֣א (not) אַתֶּ֑ם (it was you⁺), פָּרַ֨ץ (broke out) יְהוָ֤ה (YHWH) אֱלֹהֵ֙ינוּ֙ (our God) בָּ֔נוּ (against us) כִּי־ (because) לֹ֥א (not) דְרַשְׁנֻ֖הוּ (we sought him) כַּמִּשְׁפָּֽט׃ (according to the ordinance).

The Priests and Levites Carry the Ark

14  וַיִּֽתְקַדְּשׁ֔וּ (And sanctified themselves) הַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים (the priests) וְהַלְוִיִּ֑ם (and the Levites) לְהַעֲל֕וֹת (to bring up) אֶת־ (-) אֲר֥וֹן (the ark) יְהוָ֖ה (of YHWH) אֱלֹהֵ֥י (God) יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (of Israel), 15  וַיִּשְׂא֣וּ (and carried) בְנֵֽי־ (the sons) הַלְוִיִּ֗ם (of the Levites) אֵ֚ת (-) אֲר֣וֹן (the ark) הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים (of God) כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר (as) צִוָּ֥ה (had commanded) מֹשֶׁ֖ה (Moses) כִּדְבַ֣ר (according to the word) יְהוָ֑ה (of YHWH) בִּכְתֵפָ֥ם (on their shoulders) בַּמֹּט֖וֹת (with the poles) עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃פ (on them).

16  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And spoke) דָּוִיד֮ (David) לְשָׂרֵ֣י (to the heads) הַלְוִיִּם֒ (of the Levites) לְהַֽעֲמִ֗יד (to appoint) אֶת־ (-) אֲחֵיהֶם֙ (their brothers) הַמְשֹׁ֣רְרִ֔ים (as the singers) בִּכְלֵי־ (with instruments) שִׁ֛יר (of song), נְבָלִ֥ים (stringed instruments) וְכִנֹּר֖וֹת (and harps) וּמְצִלְתָּ֑יִם (and cymbals) מַשְׁמִיעִ֥ים (resounding), לְהָרִֽים־ (to lift up) בְּק֖וֹל (the voice) לְשִׂמְחָֽה׃פ (with joy). 17  וַיַּעֲמִ֣ידוּ (And appointed) הַלְוִיִּ֗ם (the Levites) אֵ֚ת (-) הֵימָ֣ן (Heman) בֶּן־ (son) יוֹאֵ֔ל (of Joel); וּמִ֨ן־ (and) אֶחָ֔יו (of his brothers), אָסָ֖ף (Asaph) בֶּן־ (son) בֶּֽרֶכְיָ֑הוּס (of Berechiah); וּמִן־ (and) בְּנֵ֤י (of the sons) מְרָרִי֙ (of Merari) אֲחֵיהֶ֔ם (their brothers), אֵיתָ֖ן (Ethan) בֶּן־ (son) קֽוּשָׁיָֽהוּ׃ (of Kushaiah); 18  וְעִמָּהֶ֖ם (and with them) אֲחֵיהֶ֣ם (their brothers) הַמִּשְׁנִ֑ים (of the second rank): זְכַרְיָ֡הוּ (ZEchariah), בֵּ֡ן (Ben), וְיַֽעֲזִיאֵ֡ל (and Jaaziel), וּשְׁמִֽירָמ֡וֹת (and Shemiramoth), וִיחִיאֵ֣ל׀ (and Jehiel), וְעֻנִּ֡י (and Unni), אֱלִיאָ֡ב (Eliab), וּבְנָיָ֡הוּ (and Benaiah), וּמַֽעֲשֵׂיָ֡הוּ (and Maaseiah), וּמַתִּתְיָהוּ֩ (and Mattithiah), וֶאֱלִ֨יפְלֵ֜הוּ (and Elipheleh), וּמִקְנֵיָ֨הוּ (and Mikneiah), וְעֹבֵ֥ד (and Obed-) אֱדֹ֛ם (edom), וִֽיעִיאֵ֖ל (and Jeiel) הַשֹּׁעֲרִֽים׃ (the gatekeepers).

19  וְהַמְשֹׁ֣רְרִ֔ים (And the singers), הֵימָ֥ן (Heman), אָסָ֖ף (Asaph), וְאֵיתָ֑ן (and Ethan), בִּמְצִלְתַּ֥יִם (with cymbals) נְחֹ֖שֶׁת (of brass) לְהַשְׁמִֽיעַ׃ (to sound). 20  וּזְכַרְיָ֨ה (And Zechariah), וַעֲזִיאֵ֜ל (and Aziel), וּשְׁמִֽירָמ֤וֹת (and Shemiramoth), וִֽיחִיאֵל֙ (and Jeheil), וְעֻנִּ֣י (and Unni), וֶֽאֱלִיאָ֔ב (and Eliab), וּמַעֲשֵׂיָ֖הוּ (and Maaseiah), וּבְנָיָ֑הוּ (and Benaiah) בִּנְבָלִ֖ים (with strings) עַל־ (according to) עֲלָמֽוֹת׃ (Alamoth). 21  וּמַתִּתְיָ֣הוּ (And Mattithiah), וֶאֱלִֽיפְלֵ֗הוּ (and Elipheleh), וּמִקְנֵיָ֙הוּ֙ (and Mikneiah), וְעֹבֵ֣ד (and Obed-) אֱדֹ֔ם (edom), וִֽיעִיאֵ֖ל (and Jeiel), וַעֲזַזְיָ֑הוּ (and Azaziah), בְּכִנֹּר֥וֹת (with lyres) עַל־ (according to) הַשְּׁמִינִ֖ית (Sheminith) לְנַצֵּֽחַ׃ (to oversee). 22  וּכְנַנְיָ֥הוּ (And Chenaniah) שַֽׂר־ (head) הַלְוִיִּ֖ם (of the Levites) בְּמַשָּׂ֑א (was over the lifting up of song); יָסֹר֙ (he instructed) בַּמַּשָּׂ֔א (in the lifting up), כִּ֥י (because) מֵבִ֖ין (was skillful) הֽוּא׃ (he).

23  וּבֶֽרֶכְיָה֙ (And Berechiah) וְאֶלְקָנָ֔ה (and Elkanah) שֹׁעֲרִ֖ים (were gatekeepers) לָאָרֽוֹן׃ (for the ark). 24  וּשְׁבַנְיָ֡הוּ (And Shebaniah), וְיֽוֹשָׁפָ֡ט (and Joshaphat), וּנְתַנְאֵ֡ל (and Nethanel), וַעֲמָשַׂ֡י (and Amasai), וּ֠זְכַרְיָהוּ (and Zechariah), וּבְנָיָ֤הוּ (and Benaiah), וֶֽאֱלִיעֶ֙זֶר֙ (and Eliezer) הַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים (the priests) מַחֲצֹצְרִים (were to blow) בַּחֲצֹ֣צְר֔וֹת (the trumpets) לִפְנֵ֖י (before the face of) אֲר֣וֹן (the ark) הָֽאֱלֹהִ֑ים (of God). וְעֹבֵ֤ד (And Obed-) אֱדֹם֙ (edom) וִֽיחִיָּ֔ה (and Jehiah) שֹׁעֲרִ֖ים (were gatekeepers) לָאָרֽוֹן׃ (for the ark).

Moving the Ark to Jerusalem

25  וַיְהִ֥י (And it came to pass), דָוִ֛יד (David) וְזִקְנֵ֥י (and the elders) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (of Israel) וְשָׂרֵ֣י (and the chiefs) הָאֲלָפִ֑ים (of the thousands) הַהֹֽלְכִ֗ים (went) לְֽהַעֲל֞וֹת (to bring up) אֶת־ (-) אֲר֧וֹן (the ark) בְּרִית־ (of the covenant) יְהוָ֛ה (of YHWH) מִן־ (from) בֵּ֥ית (the house) עֹבֵֽד־ (of Obed-) אֱדֹ֖ם (edom) בְּשִׂמְחָֽה׃ס (with joy). 26  וַֽיְהִי֙ (And it came to pass), בֶּעְזֹ֣ר (in helping) הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים (God) אֶ֨ת־ (-) הַלְוִיִּ֔ם (the Levites) נֹשְׂאֵ֖י (who bore) אֲר֣וֹן (the ark) בְּרִית־ (of the covenant) יְהוָ֑ה (of YHWH), וַיִּזְבְּח֥וּ (that they offered) שִׁבְעָֽה־ (seven) פָרִ֖ים (bulls) וְשִׁבְעָ֥ה (and seven) אֵילִֽים׃ (rams).

27  וְדָוִ֞יד (And David) מְכֻרְבָּ֣ל׀ (was wrapped) בִּמְעִ֣יל (in a robe) בּ֗וּץ (of fine linen), וְכָל־ (and were all) הַלְוִיִּם֙ (the Levites) הַנֹּשְׂאִ֣ים (who bore) אֶת־ (-) הָאָר֔וֹן (the ark), וְהַמְשֹׁ֣רְרִ֔ים (and the singers), וּכְנַנְיָ֛ה (and Chenaniah) הַשַּׂ֥ר (head) הַמַּשָּׂ֖א (of the lifting up) הַמְשֹֽׁרְרִ֑ים (of the singers). וְעַל־ (And on) דָּוִ֖יד (David) אֵפ֥וֹד (was an Ephod) בָּֽד׃ (of linen). 28  וְכָל־ (And all) יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל (Israel) מַעֲלִים֙ (brought up) אֶת־ (-) אֲר֣וֹן (the ark) בְּרִית־ (of the covenant) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH) בִּתְרוּעָה֙ (with shouting), וּבְק֣וֹל (and with the sound) שׁוֹפָ֔ר (of the shofar), וּבַחֲצֹצְר֖וֹת (and with the trumpets), וּבִמְצִלְתָּ֑יִם (and with cymbals), מַשְׁמִעִ֕ים (making music) בִּנְבָלִ֖ים (with stringed instruments) וְכִנֹּרֽוֹת׃ (and harps).

Michal’s Contempt for David
(2 Samuel 6:16)

29  וַיְהִ֗י (And it came to pass), אֲרוֹן֙ (as the ark) בְּרִ֣ית (of the covenant) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH) בָּ֖א (came) עַד־ (to) עִ֣יר (the City) דָּוִ֑יד (of David), וּמִיכַ֨ל (that Michal) בַּת־ (daughter) שָׁא֜וּל (of Saul) נִשְׁקְפָ֣ה׀ (looked) בְּעַ֣ד (through) הַחַלּ֗וֹן (the window) וַתֵּ֨רֶא (and saw) אֶת־ (-) הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ (King) דָּוִיד֙ (David) מְרַקֵּ֣ד (dancing) וּמְשַׂחֵ֔ק (and playing music); וַתִּ֥בֶז (and she despised) ל֖וֹ (him) בְּלִבָּֽהּ׃פ (in her heart).