1Ch 15:1 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.
1Ch 15:1 And David made houses for himself in the City of David, and prepared a place for the ark of God, and pitched a tent for it.
And pitched for it a tent - The old “tent” or “tabernacle” was still in existence at Gibeon 1Ch_16:39; 2Ch_1:3; but the ark had long been separated from it, and David probably thought that something newer and more magnificent was requisite. He therefore allowed the former tabernacle to keep its place, and had another made and erected.
pitched for it a tent - that is, made an entirely new one upon the model of the former. The old tabernacle, which Moses had constructed in the wilderness and which had hitherto served the purpose of a sacred covering, was to be left at Gibeon, either because of the unwillingness of the inhabitants to part with such a venerable relic, or because there was no use for it in Jerusalem, where a more solid and sumptuous edifice was contemplated.
Made him houses - With the help of the masons and carpenters Hiram sent him, 1Ch_14:1, the royal palace is meant, with all the apartments in it, which were many and large, as so great a family he had required, and with all the out houses to it necessary for his servants, and their offices:
Prepared a place for the ark of God - In 2Sa_6:12 the whole matter is introduced by a statement that the motive which had determined the king to bring the ark to Jerusalem, was his having heard of the blessing which the ark had brought upon the house of Obed-edom.
1Ch 15:2 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.
1Ch 15:2 Then David said, No one ought to carry the ark of God except the Levites, for God has chosen them to carry the ark of God, and to minister to Him forever.
None ought to carry the ark of God but the Levites - We can easily understand that David, after the “breach upon Uzza” 1Ch_13:11, had carefully considered all the legal requirements with respect to moving the ark, and was anxious that they should be strictly observed.
None ought to carry the ark but the Levites - It was their business; and he should have thought of this sooner, and then the unfortunate breach on Uzza would have been prevented; 1Ch_15:13. Num_1:50 But you shall set the Levites over the tabernacle of testimony, and over all its vessels, and over all its things. They shall carry the tabernacle and all its vessels. And they shall serve it, and shall camp around the tabernacle.
1Ch 15:3 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.
1Ch 15:3 And David gathered all Israel together to Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of Jehovah to its place which he had prepared for it.
to bring up the ark of the Lord - from the house of Obededom, where it had been three months.
David gathered all Israel together - at whatever time the ceremonial took place, it was of great importance to summon a general convocation of the people, many of whom, from the long-continued disorders of the kingdom, might have had little or no opportunity of knowing anything of the ark, which had been allowed to remain so long in obscurity and neglect.
1Ch 15:4 And David assembled the children of Aaron, and the Levites:
1Ch 15:4 And David gathered the sons of Aaron, and the Levites.
the children of Aaron, and the Levites - Whose business it was to bear the ark when there was any occasion for it: and from hence to the end of 1Ch_15:10 an account is given of the Levites, and their number employed in this affair:
The sons of Aaron - the high priests Zadok and Abiathar, 1Ch_15:11, heads of the two priestly houses of Eleazar and Ithamar, and colleagues in the high priesthood (2Sa_20:25).
and the Levites -The Levites were the chiefs of their father’s house (1Ch_15:12); four belonging to the Kohathite branch, on whose shoulders the ark was to be borne; namely, Uriel, Shemaiah - descended from Elizaphan or Elzaphan - (Exo_6:22), Hebron (Exo_6:18; 1Ch_6:2), and Amminadab from Uzziel (Exo_6:22).
and the Levites - the six princes named in 1Ch_15:5-10, with their brethren, viz., (1Ch_15:5-7) the three heads of the families into which the tribe of Levi was divided, and which corresponded to the three sons of Levi, Gershon, Kohath, and Merari, respectively (Exo_6:16): Uriel head of the Kohathites, Asaiah of the Merarites, and Joel head of the Gershonites, with their brethren.
1Ch 15:5 Of the sons of Kohath; Uriel the chief, and his brethren an hundred and twenty:
1Ch 15:5 From the sons of Kohath: Uriel the chief, and a hundred and twenty of his brothers.
The sons of Kohath - Kohath is first enumerated, because Aaron the chief of the priests was descended from Kohath, and because to the Kohathites there fell, on account of their nearer relationship to the priests, the duty of serving in that which is most holy, the bearing of the holiest vessels of the tabernacle.
The sons of Kohath - The order of the sons of Levi according to primogeniture is, Gershom, Kohath, Merari Gen_46:11; Exo_6:16. But the Kohathites, of whom came the priestly family of the Aaronites, had precedence in all respects. To them especially was committed the attendance upon the ark and the bearing of it. Of the six Levitical families mentioned 1Ch_15:5-10 one only was descended from Gershom, one from Merari, and four (Uriel, Elizaphan, Hebron, and Uzziel) from Kohath.
1Ch 15:6 Of the sons of Merari; Asaiah the chief, and his brethren two hundred and twenty:
1Ch 15:6 From the sons of Merari: Asaiah the chief, and two hundred and twenty of his brothers.
1Ch 15:7 Of the sons of Gershom; Joel the chief, and his brethren an hundred and thirty:
1Ch 15:7 From the sons of Gershom: Joel the chief, and a hundred and thirty of his brothers.
1Ch 15:8 Of the sons of Elizaphan; Shemaiah the chief, and his brethren two hundred:
1Ch 15:8 From the sons of Elizaphan: Shemaiah the chief and two hundred of his brothers.
1Ch 15:9 Of the sons of Hebron; Eliel the chief, and his brethren fourscore:
1Ch 15:9 From the sons of Hebron: Eliel the chief and eighty of his brothers.
1Ch 15:10 Of the sons of Uzziel; Amminadab the chief, and his brethren an hundred and twelve.
1Ch 15:10 From the sons of Uzziel: Amminadab the chief and a hundred and twelve of his brothers.
1Ch 15:11 And David called for Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and for the Levites, for Uriel, Asaiah, and Joel, Shemaiah, and Eliel, and Amminadab,
1Ch 15:11 And David called for Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and for the Levites, for Uriel, Asaiah, and Joel, Shemaiah, and Eliel, and Amminadab.
Zadok and Abiathar the priests - Zadok of the line of Eleazar (1Ch_6:1-15), and Abiathar of the line of Ithamar, were the heads of the two priestly lines, and at that time both held the office of high priest (1Ch_24:3; cf. 2Sa_15:24., 2Sa_20:25).
1Ch 15:12 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.
1Ch 15:12 And he said to them, You are the heads of the fathers of the Levites. Sanctify yourselves, you and your brothers, so that you may bring up the ark of Jehovah, the God of Israel to the place which I have prepared for it.
sanctify yourselves - This special sanctification, which was required on all grave and important occasions, consisted in observing the strictest abstinence, as well as cleanliness, both in person and dress; and in the neglect of these rules no step could have been taken. They were charged by David to consecrate themselves with their brethren, to consecrate oneself by removal of all that is unclean, washing of the body and of the clothes, and careful keeping aloof from every defilement, avoiding sexual intimacy and the touching of unclean things.
1Ch 15:13 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.
1Ch 15:13 For because you did not do it at the first, Jehovah our God made a break on us, since we did not seek Him in due order.
Sought Him not after the due order - The “due order” was that they should have sanctified themselves and carried the ark on the shoulders of Kohathite Levites, not that it should be placed upon a cart, drawn by oxen, and rudely shaken.
the Lord our God made a breach upon us - by smiting Uzzah with death, who was no Levite, and touched the ark, which is called his "error", and for which God smote him, 2Sa_6:7.
1Ch 15:14 So the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel.
1Ch 15:14 And the priests and the Levites made themselves pure in order to bring up the ark of Jehovah, the God of Israel.
1Ch 15:15 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.
1Ch 15:15 And the sons of the Levites carried the ark of God on their shoulders, with the staves on it, as Moses commanded according to the Word of Jehovah.
Upon their shoulders - That is the staves which went through the rings rested on their shoulders, but the ark itself rested on the staves like a sedan on its poles.
1Ch 15:16 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.
1Ch 15:16 And David spoke to the chief of the Levites to choose their brothers to be the singers with instruments of music, lyres, and harps, and cymbals, sounding by lifting the voice with joy.
The singers - Singing had long been recognized as appropriate to religious ceremonies Exo_15:21; Jdg_5:1; 1Ch_13:8; but this is the first occasion on which we find the duty of conducting musical services expressly laid on the Levites. Henceforth, the services of the tabernacle and the temple were regularly choral, and a considerable section of the Levites was trained in musical knowledge, and set apart to conduct this portion of the national worship.
the singers with instruments - These eminent Levites were instructed to train the musicians and singers who were under them, for the solemn procession. The performers were ranged in three choirs or bands, and the names of the principal leaders are given (1Ch_15:17, 1Ch_15:18, 1Ch_15:21).
1Ch 15:17 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;
1Ch 15:17 And the Levites chose Heman the son of Joel, and of his brothers, Asaph the son of Berechiah. And from the sons of Merari their brothers, was Ethan the son of Kushaiah.
Heman, Asaph, Ethan - These were the three chief musicians in the time of David; 1Ch_6. Heman was the grandson of Samuel the prophet, 1Ch_6:33. Asaph was a famous singer, often mentioned in the Psalms.
the son of Kushaiah - the same as Kishi, 1Ch_6:44.
1Ch 15:18 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 Obededom, and Jeiel, the porters.
1Ch 15:18 And with them were their brothers 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 gatekeepers.
brethren of the second degree - Who were next unto them, both in office and skill in singing:
the porters - who, when they were not employed in singing, were doorkeepers of the sanctuary; either they had been porters at the tabernacle in Gibeon, or were so after the ark was placed in the tabernacle David prepared for it.
1Ch 15:19 So the singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, were appointed to sound with cymbals of brass;
1Ch 15:19 And the singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan were chosen to sound with cymbals of bronze;
cymbals of brass – mentioned in 1Co_13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I have become as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal.
These singers formed three choirs, according to the instruments they played. Heman, Asaph, and Ethan played brazen cymbals (1Ch_15:19); Benaiah and the seven who follow played psalteries (1Ch_15:20); while the last six played harps (1Ch_15:21).
1Ch 15:20 And Zechariah, and Aziel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Unni, and Eliab, and Maaseiah, and Benaiah, with psalteries on Alamoth;
1Ch 15:20 and Zechariah, and Aziel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Unni, and Eliab, and Maaseiah, and Benaiah, with harps set to Alamoth.
Psalteries on Alamoth - Some suppose that the word signifies virgins, or women singers, the persons mentioned here being appointed to accompany them with psalteries, and preside over them. The significance of the word is not known with certainty.
with psalteries on Alamoth - psalteries were another kind of instruments of music; and Alamoth was either the beginning of a song, to the tune of which those instruments played, or the tune itself, and the note of it; see Psa_46:1.
1Ch 15:21 And Mattithiah, and Elipheleh, and Mikneiah, and Obededom, and Jeiel, and Azaziah, with harps on the Sheminith to excel.
1Ch 15:21 And Mattithiah, and Elipheleh, and Mikneiah, and Obed-edom, and Jeiel, and Azaziah, were to lead with lyres on the octave.
Harps on the Sheminith - According to the Targum, this signifies an instrument that sounded an octave. “Sheminith” properly means “the eighth,” and has been compared with the modern musical term “octave.” Further, “Sheminith” and “Alamoth” are regarded as contrasted, and the harps of Mattithiah and his companions are supposed to have been pitched an octave below the psalteries of Zechariah and his brethren.
to excel - The word translated “to excel,” is taken as meaning “to lead,” and Mattithiah, etc., as leaders of the singers.
This way of praising God by musical instruments, had not hitherto been in use. But David instituted it by divine direction.
1Ch 15:22 And Chenaniah, chief of the Levites, was for song: he instructed about the song, because he was skilful.
1Ch 15:22 And Chenaniah, chief of the Levites, was for song. He instructed about the song, because he was skillful.
instructed about the song – One interpretation is that this appears to have been the master singer; he gave the key and the time, for he presided in the elevation, probably meaning what is called pitching the tune, for he was skillful in music, and powerful in his voice, and well qualified to lead the band: be might have been precentor.
he instructed about the song – Another interpretation is that this is about the taking up and bearing the burden, the ark; directing when to take it up, and how far to go with it, and then rest. The Targum says it is about the ark. Chenaniah was captain of the Levites who had charge of the bearing of the ark, a chief of the Levites who bore it. In 1Ch_15:23 two doorkeepers for the ark are named; and in 1Ch_15:24, at the end of the enumeration of the Levites who were busied about the transport, two additional names are mentioned as those of men who had the same duty. Between these two pairs of doorkeepers in 1Ch_15:24, the priests, seven in number, who blew the trumpets, are named. The blowing of the silver trumpets by the priests in this solemn procession rests on the prescription in Num_10:1-10. The place assigned to these trumpet-blowing priests was either immediately before the ark, like the priestly trumpeters in the march round Jericho (Jos_6:4, Jos_6:6), or immediately after it. For, that these priests entered in the immediate vicinity of the ark, may be inferred from the fact that before and behind them were doorkeepers of the ark. The procession, then, was probably arranged in this way: (1) the singers and players in front, in three division; (2) Chenaniah, the captain of the bearers; (3) two doorkeepers; (4) the priests with the trumpets immediately before or after the ark; (5) two doorkeepers; (6) the king with the elders and captains of thousands (1Ch_15:25).
1Ch 15:23 And Berechiah and Elkanah were doorkeepers for the ark.
1Ch 15:23 And Berechiah and Elkanah were gatekeepers for the ark.
doorkeepers for the ark - They were appointed to keep the door of the tent in which the ark was to be kept, that no unallowed person might press in and touch it; and in like manner they were to attend upon the ark in the way, and to guard it from the press and touch of profane hands; for which end these two went before the ark, and their other two brethren mentioned in the close of 1Ch_15:24, came after it.
1Ch 15:24 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 Obededom and Jehiah were doorkeepers for the ark.
1Ch 15:24 And Shebaniah, and Jehoshaphat, and Nethaneel, and Amasai, and Zechariah, and Benaiah, and Eliezer, the priests, blew with the trumpets before the ark of God. And Obed-edom and Jehiah were gatekeepers for the ark.
blow with the trumpets before the ark of God - With the silver trumpets; one use of which was to blow with when the camps and ark of the Lord moved, Num_10:5.
1Ch 15:25 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 Obededom with joy.
1Ch 15:25 And it happened, David and the elders of Israel, and the captains over thousands, went to bring up the ark of the covenant of Jehovah out of the house of Obed-edom with joy.
So David, and the elders and captains went - The pious design of David in ordering all his principal ministers and officers to take part in this solemn work and imparting so much pomp and imposing ceremony to the procession, was evidently to inspire the popular mind with a profound veneration for the ark and to give the young especially salutary impressions of religion, which would be renewed by the remembrance that they had been witnesses of the august solemnity in which the king and the highest aristocracy of the land participated, vying with all other classes to do honor to the God of Israel.
1Ch 15:26 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.
1Ch 15:26 And it happened as God helped the Levites who bore the ark of the covenant of Jehovah, they offered seven bulls and seven rams.
When God helped the Levites - The death of Uzza had deeply impressed both David and the Levites, and it was doubted whether God would allow the ark to be moved anymore. Sacrificial animals were held ready; and when it appeared - by the movement of the ark six paces 2Sa_6:13, without any manifestation of the divine displeasure - that God was not opposing but rather helping the Levites in their task, the victims were at once offered.
God helped the Levites - Not merely granted them bodily strength to carry it, which did not require a great deal; but helped them to carry it with cheerfulness, and without fear, and so as to commit no error, nor in any respect provoke his displeasure, as when it was brought before from Kirjathjearim:
they offered seven bullocks and seven rams - The Levites seem to have entered on this duty with fear and trembling; and finding that they might advance without any such indications of divine wrath as Uzza had experienced (1Ch_13:10), they offered an ox and a fatted sheep immediately after starting (2Sa_6:13), and seven bullocks and seven rams - a perfect sacrifice, at the close of the procession (1Ch_16:1). It is probable that preparations had been made for the offering of similar sacrifices at regular intervals along the way.
1Ch 15:27 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.
1Ch 15:27 And David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, and all the Levites who carried the ark, and the singers, and Chenaniah the master of the song with the singers. David also had on him an ephod of linen.
A robe of fine linen – A fine cotton.
an ephod of linen - which he had besides his linen robe, and was over it; and being a shorter and tighter garment, it bound the other closer to him; It is what others, besides priests, were, on occasion, allowed to wear, see 1Sa_2:18; 1Sa_22:18.
1Ch 15:28 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.
1Ch 15:28 And all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of Jehovah with shouting, and with sound of the cornet, and with trumpets, and with cymbals, sounding aloud with harps and lyres.
1Ch 15:29 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.
1Ch 15:29 And it happened as the ark of the covenant of Jehovah came to the City of David, Michal the daughter of Saul, looking out a window, saw King David dancing and playing. And she despised him in her heart.
Michal saw David dancing and she despised him - 2Sa_6:16-20 what she said, and what David returned in answer to it, where David’s conduct is vindicated, and the nature of Michal’s disgrace and punishment hinted at.
She despised him in her heart - In the days of Saul the ark had been neglected 1Ch_13:3, and Saul had in everything shown himself to be an irreligious king. Michal seems to have been of a like spirit. She did not blame him outwardly; she thought he had disgraced himself, but she kept her mind to herself. Michal is intentionally designated the daughter of Saul here, instead of the wife of David, because on this occasion she manifested her father's disposition rather than her husband's. In Saul's time people did not trouble themselves about the ark of the covenant (1Ch_13:3); public worship was neglected, and the soul for vital religion had died out in the family of the king. Michal possessed teraphim, and in David she only loved the brave hero and exalted king: she therefore took offence at the humility with which the king, in his pious enthusiasm, placed himself on an equality with all the rest of the nation before the Lord.
