The Tanakh · JPS 1917 Translation

1 Chronicles 15

Jewish Publication Society 1917 · Ketuvim — the Writings

1 Chronicles chapter 15 — part of the Ketuvim — the Writings in the Jewish Bible. In the classic JPS 1917 translation it opens: “And David made him houses in the city of David; and he prepared a place for the ark of G-d, and pitched for it a tent.” — the complete text of all 29 verses is below, free to read online.

1And David made him houses in the city of David; and he prepared a place for the ark of G-d, and pitched for it a tent.

2Then David said: 'None ought to carry the ark of G-d but the Levites; for them hath HaShem chosen to carry the ark of HaShem, and to minister unto Him for ever.'

3And David assembled all Israel at Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of HaShem unto its place, which he had prepared for it.

4And David gathered together the sons of Aaron, and the Levites;

5of the sons of Kohath: Uriel the chief, and his brethren a hundred and twenty;

6of the sons of Merari: Asaiah the chief, and his brethren two hundred and twenty;

7of the sons of Gershom: Joel the chief, and his brethren a hundred and thirty;

8of the sons of Elizaphan: Shemaiah the chief, and his brethren two hundred;

9of the sons of Hebron: Eliel the chief, and his brethren fourscore;

10of the sons of Uzziel: Amminadab the chief, and his brethren a hundred and twelve.

11And David called for Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and for the Levites, for Uriel, Asaiah, and Joel, Shemaiah, and Eliel, and Amminadab,

12and said unto them: 'Ye are the heads of the fathers' houses of the Levites; sanctify yourselves, both ye and your brethren, that ye may bring up the ark of HaShem, the G-d of Israel, unto the place that I have prepared for it.

13For because ye bore it not at the first, HaShem our G-d made a breach upon us, for that we sought Him not according to the ordinance.'

14So the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of HaShem, the G-d of Israel.

15And the children of the Levites bore the ark of G-d upon their shoulders with the bars thereon, as Moses commanded according to the word of HaShem.

16And David spoke to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brethren the singers, with instruments of music, psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding aloud and lifting up the voice with joy.

17So 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;

18and 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 Eliphalehu, and Mikneiah, and Obed-edom, and Jeiel, the doorkeepers.

19So the singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan,were appointed, with cymbals of brass to sound aloud;

20and Zechariah, and Aziel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Unni, and Eliab, and Maaseiah, and Benaiah, with psalteries set to Alamoth;

21and Mattithiah, and Eliphalehu, and Mikneiahu, and Obed-edom, and Jeiel, and Azaziah, with harps on the Sheminith, to lead.

22And Chenaniah, chief of the Levites, was over the song; he was master in the song, because he was skilful.

23And Berechiah and Elkanah were door-keepers for the ark.

24And Shebaniah, and Joshaphat, and Nethanel, and Amasai, and Zechariah, and Benaiah, and Eliezer, the priests, did blow with the trumpets before the ark of G-d; and Obed-edom and Jehiah were doorkeepers for the ark.

25So David, and the elders of Israel, and the captains over thousands, went to bring up the ark of the covenant of HaShem out of the house of Obed-edom with joy.

26And it came to pass, when G-d helped the Levites that bore the ark of the covenant of HaShem, that they sacrificed seven bullocks and seven rams.

27And 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 singers in the song; and David had upon him an ephod of linen.

28Thus all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of HaShem with shouting, and with sound of the horn, and with trumpets, and with cymbals, sounding aloud with psalteries and harps.

29And it came to pass, as the ark of the covenant of HaShem came to the city of David, that Michal the daughter of Saul looked out at the window, and saw king David dancing and making merry; and she despised him in her heart.

29 verses · JPS 1917 (public domain)

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