Preparing to Move the Ark (2 Samuel 6:12–15)
3 UDB David summoned all the people of Israel to come to Jerusalem. He wanted the sacred chest of Yahweh to be put in the place that he had made for it. BSB BSB: And David assembled all Israel in Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the LORD to the place he had prepared for it.
4 UDB He summoned the descendants of Aaron, who was the first high priest, and the descendants of Levi. BSB BSB: Then he gathered together the descendants of Aaron and the Levites:
5 UDB 120 descendants of Kohath, who was Levi's second son, came, with Uriel their leader. BSB BSB: From the Kohathites, Uriel the chief and 120 of his relatives;
6 UDB There were 220 descendants of Merari, Levi's third son, who came, with Asaiah their leader. BSB BSB: from the Merarites, Asaiah the chief and 220 of his relatives;
7 UDB There were 130 descendants of Gershon, Levi's first son, who came, with Joel their leader. BSB BSB: from the Gershomites, Joel the chief and 130 of his relatives;
8 UDB Also, there were 200 people from Elizaphan's clan who came, with Shemaiah their leader. BSB BSB: from the Elizaphanites, Shemaiah the chief and 200 of his relatives;
9 UDB There were 80 people from Hebron's clan who came, with Eliel their leader. BSB BSB: from the Hebronites, Eliel the chief and 80 of his relatives;
10 UDB And there were 112 people from Uzziel's clan who came, with Amminadab their leader. BSB BSB: and from the Uzzielites, Amminadab the chief and 112 of his relatives.
11 UDB David summoned the priests Zadok and Abiathar and these descendants of Levi: Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab. BSB BSB: David summoned the priests Zadok and Abiathar and the Levites Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab.
12 UDB David said to them, "You are the leaders of the clans descended from Levi. You and the other descendants of Levi must purify yourselves, in order to be able to do this special work for Yahweh. You must bring the sacred chest of Yahweh, the God of us Israelites, up to the place that I have made for it here in Jerusalem. BSB BSB: And he said to them, “You are the heads of the Levitical families. You and your relatives must consecrate yourselves so that you may bring the ark of the LORD, the God of Israel, to the place I have prepared for it.
The Priests and Levites Carry the Ark 14 UDB Then the priests and the descendants of Levi performed the rituals to purify themselves so that it would be proper for them to do the work of carrying the sacred chest of Yahweh, the God of the Israelite people. BSB BSB: So the priests and Levites consecrated themselves to bring up the ark of the LORD, the God of Israel.
15 UDB The descendants of Levi fastened poles to the sacred chest so that they could carry it by fastening poles to it and putting it on their shoulders, as Moses had commanded and as Yahweh had said that they should. BSB BSB: And the Levites carried the ark of God on their shoulders with the poles, as Moses had commanded in accordance with the word of the LORD.
16 UDB David told the leaders of the descendants of Levi to appoint some of their relatives to sing and play lyres, harps, and cymbals and to sing joyful songs while they were carrying the sacred chest. BSB BSB: David also told the leaders of the Levites to appoint their relatives as singers to lift up their voices with joy, accompanied by musical instruments—harps, lyres, and cymbals.
17 UDB So they appointed Heman and his relatives Asaph and Ethan. Heman was the son of Joel; Asaph was the son of Berekiah. Ethan son of Kushaiah was a descendant of Merari. BSB BSB: So the Levites appointed Heman son of Joel; from his brothers, Asaph son of Berechiah; from their brothers the Merarites, Ethan son of Kushaiah;
18 UDB There was also another group of descendants of Levi who were appointed: Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, and two of the temple gatekeepers, Obed-Edom and Jeiel. BSB BSB: and with them their brothers next in rank: Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, and the gatekeepers Obed-edom and Jeiel.
19 UDB Heman, Asaph and Ethan sang, but also played bronze cymbals. BSB BSB: The musicians Heman, Asaph, and Ethan were to sound the bronze cymbals.
20 UDB Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah played lyres. BSB BSB: Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah were to play the harps according to Alamoth.
21 UDB Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah played harps. BSB BSB: And Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah were to lead the music with lyres according to Sheminith.
22 UDB Kenaniah, the leader of the descendants of Levi, directed the singing because he was very capable of doing that. BSB BSB: Chenaniah the head Levite was the director of the music because he was highly skilled.
23 UDB Berekiah and Elkanah were two of the men who guarded the sacred chest. BSB BSB: Berechiah and Elkanah were to be guardians of the ark.
24 UDB The priests Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer were appointed to blow trumpets in front of the sacred chest. Obed-Edom and Jehiah also guarded the sacred chest. BSB BSB: Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer—the priests—were to blow the trumpets before the ark of God. Obed-edom and Jehiah were also to be guardians of the ark.
Moving the Ark to Jerusalem 25 UDB David and the Israelite leaders and the officers who commanded one thousand soldiers went to get the sacred chest. They went to bring it from Obed-Edom's house. They went very joyfully. BSB BSB: So David, the elders of Israel, and the commanders of thousands went with rejoicing to bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD from the house of Obed-edom.
26 UDB God helped the descendants of Levi who carried the sacred chest of Yahweh; therefore, David and the leaders sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams to thank him. BSB BSB: And because God helped the Levites who were carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams.
27 UDB The descendants of Levi who carried the sacred chest, the singers, and Kenaniah, the man who directed those who sang, all wore robes of fine white linen and sacred vests made of fine linen. David also wore a waistcloth made of white linen. BSB BSB: Now David was dressed in a robe of fine linen, as were all the Levites who were carrying the ark, as well as the singers and Chenaniah, the director of music for the singers. David also wore a linen ephod.
28 UDB So all the Israelite people joined in bringing the sacred chest up to Jerusalem. They shouted, blew horns and trumpets, and played cymbals, lyres, and harps. BSB BSB: So all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the LORD with shouting, with the sounding of rams’ horns and trumpets, and with cymbals and the music of harps and lyres.
Michal’s Contempt for David (2 Samuel 6:16)
29 UDB While they were bringing the sacred chest into Jerusalem, Saul's daughter Michal watched them, looking out of a window. When she saw King David dancing and celebrating, she despised him. BSB BSB: As the ark of the covenant of the LORD was entering the City of David, Saul’s daughter Michal looked down from a window and saw King David dancing and celebrating, and she despised him in her heart.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.