The Priests and Levites Carry the Ark
The priests and Levites consecrate themselves, and the Levites carry the ark on their shoulders with poles, in keeping with Moses’ command and the Lord’s word.
S14o the priests and Levites consecrated themselves to bring up the ark of the LORD, the God of Israel. 15And 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.
David appoints Levites as singers and musicians, and the chapter names those assigned to cymbals, harps, lyres, and musical leadership. Worship is arranged with the same care as the carrying of the ark.
16David 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. 17So the Levites appointed Heman son of Joel; from his brothers, Asaph son of Berechiah; from their brothers the Merarites, Ethan son of Kushaiah; 18and 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. 19The musicians Heman, Asaph, and Ethan were to sound the bronze cymbals. 20Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah were to play the harps according to Alamoth. 21And Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah were to lead the music with lyres according to Sheminith. 22Chenaniah the head Levite was the director of the music because he was highly skilled.
Guardians are stationed around the ark, and priests are appointed to blow trumpets before it. The procession is framed by watchfulness as well as music.
23Berechiah and Elkanah were to be guardians of the ark. 24Shebaniah, 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.