Introduction
1 Chronicles 15:1–24: David reflects on his failed attempt to move the Covenant Box to Jerusalem and tries again. This time he prepares a place in Jerusalem to receive the Box and calls on the Levites to move it. He commands the Levites to purify themselves before moving the Box and has them assign singers and musicians to accompany the moving ceremony.
Today’s Key Verse: 1 Corinthians 15:2 GNT
Then [David] said, “Only Levites should carry the Covenant Box, because they are the ones the LORD chose to carry it and to serve him forever.”
Read
1 For his own use, David built houses in David’s City. He also prepared a place for God’s Covenant Box and put up a tent for it. 2 Then he said, “Only Levites should carry the Covenant Box, because they are the ones the LORD chose to carry it and to serve him forever.” 3 So David summoned all the people of Israel to Jerusalem in order to bring the Covenant Box to the place he had prepared for it. 4 Next he sent for the descendants of Aaron and for the Levites. 5 From the Levite clan of Kohath came Uriel, in charge of 120 members of his clan; 6 from the clan of Merari came Asaiah, in charge of 220; 7 from the clan of Gershon, Joel, in charge of 130; 8 from the clan of Elizaphan, Shemaiah, in charge of 200; 9 from the clan of Hebron, Eliel, in charge of 80; 10 and from the clan of Uzziel, Amminadab, in charge of 112.
11 David called in the priests Zadok and Abiathar and the six Levites, Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab. 12 He said to the Levites, “You are the leaders of the Levite clans. Purify yourselves and your fellow Levites, so that you can bring the Covenant Box of the LORD God of Israel to the place I have prepared for it. 13 Because you were not there to carry it the first time, the LORD our God punished us for not worshiping him as we should have done.”
14 Then the priests and the Levites purified themselves in order to move the Covenant Box of the LORD God of Israel. 15 The Levites carried it on poles on their shoulders, as the LORD had commanded through Moses.
16 David commanded the leaders of the Levites to assign various Levites to sing and to play joyful music on harps and cymbals. 17-21 From the clans of singers they chose the following men to play the brass cymbals: Heman son of Joel, his relative Asaph son of Berechiah, and Ethan son of Kushaiah, of the clan of Merari. To assist them they chose the following Levites to play the high-pitched harps: Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah.
To play the low-pitched harps they chose the following Levites: Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Azaziah, and the Temple guards, Obed Edom and Jeiel.
22 Because of his skill in music Chenaniah was chosen to be in charge of the levitical musicians. 23-24 Berechiah and Elkanah, along with Obed Edom and Jehiah, were chosen as guards for the Covenant Box. The priests Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer were chosen to blow trumpets in front of the Covenant Box.
Reflect
Why does David say that only Levites should carry the Covenant Box (verse 2)? According to David, why did God punish the Israelites for their first attempt to move it (verse 13; see also Exodus 25:12–15)? How did the priests and Levites prepare to carry it (verses 14–15)? What can this story teach us about following God’s commands?
Pray
Lord God, you set apart your servants and give each one a role in your kingdom. Help us to remember your instructions, that we may fulfill your calling in us and humbly receive from the gifts and callings of our neighbors. Amen.
Tomorrow’s Reading
1 Chronicles 15:25—16:7: David successfully moves the Covenant Box to Jerusalem.
