1 David fez para si vários palácios em Jerusalém. Construiu também uma tenda para que nela estivesse a arca de Deus. 2 Para tal deu as seguintes instruções: "Ninguém mais, além dos levitas, poderá transportá-la; é a eles que compete esse serviço para sempre."

3 Então David convocou todo o povo de Israel para Jerusalém, a fim de celebrarem o transporte da arca para o lugar que tinha destinado.

4 Foram estes os sacerdotes e os levitas que estiveram presentes:

5 do clã do Coate estiveram 120,

Uriel era o seu chefe;

6 do clã de Merari, 220,

Asaías era o chefe;

7 do clã de Gerson, 130,

Joel era o chefe;

8 do subclã de Elizafã, 200,

Semaías era o chefe;

9 do subclã de Hebrom, 80,

Eliel era o chefe;

10 do subclã de Uziel, 112,

Aminadabe era o chefe.

11 David mandou chamar os sacerdotes Zadoque e Abiatar, assim como os chefes dos levitas: Uriel, Asaías, Joel, Semaías, Eliel e Aminadabe. 12 "Vocês são os chefes dos clãs dos levitas", disse-lhes. "Portanto, santifiquem-se, a vós próprios e aos vossos irmãos, de forma que possam trazer a arca do Senhor, o Deus de Israel, para o lugar que lhe preparei. 13 O Senhor, nosso Deus, castigou-nos da outra vez, porque não respeitámos os preceitos divinos; era a vocês que competia levarem a arca." 14 Então os sacerdotes e os levitas executaram os rituais de santificação, como preparação para o transporte da arca de Senhor, o Deus de Israel. 15 Depois os levitas carregaram-na, eles próprios, aos ombros, com as varas apropriadas, tal como o Senhor ordenara a Moisés.

16 David também tinha ordenado aos levitas que organizassem os coros de cantores, acompanhando-se da música forte e alegre dos instrumentos, como alaúdes, harpas e címbalos. 17 Hemã, filho de Joel, Asafe, filho de Berequias, e Etã, filho de Cusaías, do clã de Merari, eram os responsáveis pela parte musical. 18 Os seguintes homens foram escolhidos como seus assistentes: Zacarias, Bene, Jaaziel, Semiramote, Jeiel, Uni, Eliabe, Benaia, Maaseia, Matitias, Elifeleu, Micneias, Obede-Edom e Jeiel; estes eram também porteiros.

19 Hemã, Asafe e Etã foram escolhidos para tocarem os címbalos de bronze. 20 Zacarias, Aziel, Semiramote, Jeiel, Uni, Eliabe, Maaseia e Benaia formavam um octeto acompanhado de harpas. 21 Matitias, Elifeleu, Micneias, Obede-Edom, Jeiel e Azazias eram harpistas. 22 O chefe dos cantores era Quenanias, líder dos levitas, o qual foi selecionado pelas suas qualidades.

23 Berequias e Elcana eram os guardas da arca. 24 Sebanias, Josafate, Netanel, Amasai, Zacarias, Benaia e Eliezer, todos eles sacerdotes, formavam um conjunto de cornetas que ia à frente do cortejo. Obede-Edom e Jeías guardavam a arca.

25 David e os anciãos de Israel, acompanhados dos generais do exército, foram com grande alegria até à casa de Obede-Edom, para trazerem a arca da aliança do Senhor para Jerusalém. 26 E porque Deus protegeu os levitas que transportavam a arca da aliança do Senhor, sacrificaram sete novilhos e sete carneiros. 27 David e os levitas que transportavam a arca, os cantores e Quenanias, o chefe dos cantores, estavam vestidos de roupa de linho; David trazia também uma veste sacerdotal*15.27 No hebraico, éfode de linho. Peça de vestuário habitualmente usada pelos sacerdotes, aqui provavelmente usada por devoção.. 28 Foi dessa maneira que os líderes de Israel transportaram a arca da aliança, com brados de júbilo, ao som de trombetas, cornetas e címbalos, acompanhados de harpas e alaúdes.

29 Quando a arca da aliança do Senhor chegou à Cidade de David, Mical, a filha de Saul, da janela onde se encontrava, sentiu desprezo por David ao vê-lo a dançar e a tocar.

1 And David made him houses in the city of David, and prepared a place for the ark of God, and pitched for it a tent. 2 Then David said, None ought to carry the ark of God but the Levites: for them hath the LORD chosen to carry the ark of God, and to minister unto him for ever.*15.2 None…: Heb. It is not to carry the ark of God, but for the Levites 3 And David gathered all Israel together to Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the LORD unto his place, which he had prepared for it. 4 And David assembled the children of Aaron, and the Levites: 5 Of the sons of Kohath; Uriel the chief, and his brethren an hundred and twenty:*15.5 brethren: or, kinsmen 6 Of the sons of Merari; Asaiah the chief, and his brethren two hundred and twenty: 7 Of the sons of Gershom; Joel the chief, and his brethren an hundred and thirty: 8 Of the sons of Elizaphan; Shemaiah the chief, and his brethren two hundred: 9 Of the sons of Hebron; Eliel the chief, and his brethren fourscore: 10 Of the sons of Uzziel; Amminadab the chief, and his brethren an hundred and twelve. 11 And David called for Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and for the Levites, for Uriel, Asaiah, and Joel, Shemaiah, and Eliel, and Amminadab, 12 And said unto them, Ye are the chief of the fathers of the Levites: sanctify yourselves, both ye and your brethren, that ye may bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel unto the place that I have prepared for it. 13 For because ye did it not at the first, the LORD our God made a breach upon us, for that we sought him not after the due order. 14 So the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel. 15 And the children of the Levites bare the ark of God upon their shoulders with the staves thereon, as Moses commanded according to the word of the LORD. 16 And David spake to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be the singers with instruments of musick, psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding, by lifting up the voice with joy. 17 So the Levites appointed Heman the son of Joel; and of his brethren, Asaph the son of Berechiah; and of the sons of Merari their brethren, Ethan the son of Kushaiah; 18 And with them their brethren of the second degree, Zechariah, Ben, and Jaaziel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Unni, Eliab, and Benaiah, and Maaseiah, and Mattithiah, and Elipheleh, and Mikneiah, and Obed-edom, and Jeiel, the porters. 19 So the singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, were appointed to sound with cymbals of brass; 20 And Zechariah, and Aziel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Unni, and Eliab, and Maaseiah, and Benaiah, with psalteries on Alamoth; 21 And Mattithiah, and Elipheleh, and Mikneiah, and Obed-edom, and Jeiel, and Azaziah, with harps on the Sheminith to excel.*15.21 on the…: or, on the eighth to oversee 22 And Chenaniah, chief of the Levites, was for song: he instructed about the song, because he was skilful.*15.22 was for…: or, was for the carriage: he instructed about the carriage*15.22 song: Heb. lifting up 23 And Berechiah and Elkanah were doorkeepers for the ark. 24 And Shebaniah, and Jehoshaphat, and Nethaneel, and Amasai, and Zechariah, and Benaiah, and Eliezer, the priests, did blow with the trumpets before the ark of God: and Obed-edom and Jehiah were doorkeepers for the ark.

25 So David, and the elders of Israel, and the captains over thousands, went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the house of Obed-edom with joy. 26 And it came to pass, when God helped the Levites that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, that they offered seven bullocks and seven rams. 27 And David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, and all the Levites that bare the ark, and the singers, and Chenaniah the master of the song with the singers: David also had upon him an ephod of linen.*15.27 song: or, carriage 28 Thus all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the LORD with shouting, and with sound of the cornet, and with trumpets, and with cymbals, making a noise with psalteries and harps.

29 And it came to pass, as the ark of the covenant of the LORD came to the city of David, that Michal the daughter of Saul looking out at a window saw king David dancing and playing: and she despised him in her heart.