1 David fez para si vários palácios em Jerusalém. Construiu também um novo tabernáculo para que nele estivesse a arca de Deus. 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 novo tabernáculo. Foram estes os sacerdotes e os levitas que estiveram presente:do clã do Coate estiveram 120; Uriel era o seu chefe o clã de Merari, 220; Asaias era o chefe o clã de Gerson, 130; Joel era o chefe o sub-clã de Elizafá, 200; Semaías era o chefe o sub-clã de Hebrom, 80; Eliel era o chefe o sub-clã de Uziel, 112; Aminadabe era o chefe.11 David mandou chamar Zadoque e Abiatar, os sumo sacerdotes, 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 si próprios e aos vossos irmãos, de forma que possam trazer a arca de Jeová, o Deus de Israel, ao lugar que lhe preparei. O Senhor destruiu-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 as cerimónias rituais de santificação, como preparação para o transporte da arca de Jeová, o Deus de Israel. Os levitas, depois, carregaram-na eles próprios, aos ombros, sobre as varas apropriadas, tal como o Senhor ordenara a Moisés.16 David também tinha mandado aos levitas que organizassem os coros de cantores, e eles assim fizeram, acompanhando-se com a música forte e alegre dos instrumentos, tais como alaúdes, harpas e címbalos. Hemã (filho de Joel), Asafe (filho de Berequias) e Etã (filho de Cuasaías), do clã de Merari, eram os responsáveis pela parte musical.18 Os seguintes homens foram escolhidos como seus assistentes: Zacarias, Aziel, Semiramote, Jeiel, Uni, Eliabe, Benaia, Maaséia, Matitias, Elifeleu, Micnéias, Obede-Edom e Jeiel; estes eram também porteiros.19 Hemã, Asafe e Etã foram escolhidos para tocarem os címbalos de cobre; e Zacarias, Aziel, Semiramote, Jeiel, Uni, Eliabe, Maaséia e Benaia formavam um octeto acompanhado de harpas. Matitias, Elifeleu, Micnéias, Obede-Edom, Jeiel e Azarias eram harpistas. O chefe dos cantores era Quenanias, líder dos levitas, o qual foi seleccionado pelas suas qualidades. Berequias e Elcana eram guardas da arca. Sebanias, Josafate, Netanel, Amasai, Zacarias, Benaia e Eliezer - todos eles sacerdotes - formavam um conjunto de trombetas que ia à frente do cortejo. Obede Edom e Jeías guardavam a arca.25 David mais os anciãos de Israel, acompanhados dos generais do exército, foram com grande alegria até à casa de Obede-Edom, para trazerem a arca para Jerusalém. E porque Deus não destruiu os levitas que transportavam a arca, sacrificaram sete novilhos e sete carneiros. David mais os levitas que transportavam a arca, os cantores e Quenanias, o chefe dos cantores, estavam vestidos de roupa de linho; David trazia também um éfode de linho.28 Foi dessa maneira que os líderes de Israel transportaram a arca, com brados de alegria, som de buzinas e trombetas, mais os címbalos e o acompanhamento das harpas e alaúdes.29 Quando a arca chegou a Jerusalém, Mical, a mulher de David, filha do rei Saul, sentiu desprezo por David, ao vê-lo, da janela onde se encontrava, 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 to him for ever.3 And David assembled all Israel to Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the LORD to its 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 a hundred and twenty: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 a 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 eighty:10 Of the sons of Uzziel: Amminadab the chief, and his brethren a 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 to 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 to 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 bore the ark of God upon their shoulders with the staffs on it, as Moses commanded, according to the word of the LORD.16 And David spoke to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be the singers with instruments of music, 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.22 And Chenaniah, chief of the Levites, was for song: he instructed about the song, because he was skillful.23 And Berechiah and Elkanah were door-keepers 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 door-keepers 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 from the house of Obed-edom with joy.26 And it came to pass, when God helped the Levites that bore 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 bore the ark, and the singers, and Chenaniah the master of the song with the singers: David also had upon him an ephod of linen.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.