4 And David H1732 assembled H622 the children H1121 of Aaron, H175 and the Levites: H3881
And these are the names H8034 of the sons H1121 of Levi H3878 according to their generations; H8435 Gershon, H1648 and Kohath, H6955 and Merari: H4847 and the years H8141 of the life H2416 of Levi H3878 were an hundred H3967 thirty H7970 and seven H7651 years. H8141 The sons H1121 of Gershon; H1648 Libni, H3845 and Shimi, H8096 according to their families. H4940 And the sons H1121 of Kohath; H6955 Amram, H6019 and Izhar, H3324 and Hebron, H2275 and Uzziel: H5816 and the years H8141 of the life H2416 of Kohath H6955 were an hundred H3967 thirty H7970 and three H7969 years. H8141 And the sons H1121 of Merari; H4847 Mahali H4249 and Mushi: H4187 these are the families H4940 of Levi H3878 according to their generations. H8435 And Amram H6019 took H3947 him Jochebed H3115 his father's sister H1733 to wife; H802 and she bare H3205 him Aaron H175 and Moses: H4872 and the years H8141 of the life H2416 of Amram H6019 were an hundred H3967 and thirty H7970 and seven H7651 years. H8141 And the sons H1121 of Izhar; H3324 Korah, H7141 and Nepheg, H5298 and Zichri. H2147 And the sons H1121 of Uzziel; H5816 Mishael, H4332 and Elzaphan, H469 and Zithri. H5644
The sons H1121 of Levi; H3878 Gershom, H1647 Kohath, H6955 and Merari. H4847 And these be the names H8034 of the sons H1121 of Gershom; H1647 Libni, H3845 and Shimei. H8096 And the sons H1121 of Kohath H6955 were, Amram, H6019 and Izhar, H3324 and Hebron, H2275 and Uzziel. H5816 The sons H1121 of Merari; H4847 Mahli, H4249 and Mushi. H4187 And these are the families H4940 of the Levites H3881 according to their fathers. H1 Of Gershom; H1647 Libni H3845 his son, H1121 Jahath H3189 his son, H1121 Zimmah H2155 his son, H1121 Joah H3098 his son, H1121 Iddo H5714 his son, H1121 Zerah H2226 his son, H1121 Jeaterai H2979 his son. H1121 The sons H1121 of Kohath; H6955 Amminadab H5992 his son, H1121 Korah H7141 his son, H1121 Assir H617 his son, H1121 Elkanah H511 his son, H1121 and Ebiasaph H43 his son, H1121 and Assir H617 his son, H1121 Tahath H8480 his son, H1121 Uriel H222 his son, H1121 Uzziah H5818 his son, H1121 and Shaul H7586 his son. H1121 And the sons H1121 of Elkanah; H511 Amasai, H6022 and Ahimoth. H287 As for Elkanah: H511 the sons H1121 of Elkanah; H511 Zophai H6689 his son, H1121 and Nahath H5184 his son, H1121 Eliab H446 his son, H1121 Jeroham H3395 his son, H1121 Elkanah H511 his son. H1121 And the sons H1121 of Samuel; H8050 the firstborn H1060 Vashni, H2059 and Abiah. H29 The sons H1121 of Merari; H4847 Mahli, H4249 Libni H3845 his son, H1121 Shimei H8096 his son, H1121 Uzza H5798 his son, H1121 Shimea H8092 his son, H1121 Haggiah H2293 his son, H1121 Asaiah H6222 his son. H1121
But Aaron H175 and his sons H1121 offered H6999 upon the altar H4196 of the burnt offering, H5930 and on the altar H4196 of incense, H7004 and were appointed for all the work H4399 of the place most H6944 holy, H6944 and to make an atonement H3722 for Israel, H3478 according to all that Moses H4872 the servant H5650 of God H430 had commanded. H6680 And these are the sons H1121 of Aaron; H175 Eleazar H499 his son, H1121 Phinehas H6372 his son, H1121 Abishua H50 his son, H1121
Of the children H1121 of Levi H3878 four H702 thousand H505 and six H8337 hundred. H3967 And Jehoiada H3077 was the leader H5057 of the Aaronites, H175 and with him were three H7969 thousand H505 and seven H7651 hundred; H3967 And Zadok, H6659 a young man H5288 mighty H1368 of valour, H2428 and of his father's H1 house H1004 twenty H6242 and two H8147 captains. H8269
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on 1 Chronicles 15
Commentary on 1 Chronicles 15 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 15
1Ch 15:1-24. David Brings the Ark from Obededom.
1. David made him houses in the city of David—Through the liberality of his Tyrian ally (1Ch 14:1), David was enabled to erect not only a palace for himself, but to furnish suitable accommodation for his numerous family. Where polygamy prevails, each wife has a separate house or suite of apartments for herself and children.
prepared a place for the ark of God, and 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. If it appear surprising that David "made him houses" before he prepared this new tabernacle, it should be remembered that he had received no divine intimation respecting such a work.
2. Then David said, None ought to carry the ark of God but the Levites—After the lapse of three months (1Ch 13:14) the purpose of transporting the ark to Jerusalem was resumed. Time and reflection had led to a discovery of the cause of the painful catastrophe that marred the first attempt. In preparing for the solemn procession that was now to usher the sacred symbol into its resting-place, David took special care that the carriage should be regulated in strict conformity to the law (Nu 4:5, 15; 7:9; 10:17).
3. David gathered all Israel together—Some are of opinion that this was done on one of the three great festivals, but 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.
4. David assembled the children of Aaron, and the Levites—The children of Aaron were the two priests (1Ch 15:11), Zadok and Abiathar, heads of the two priestly houses of Eleazar and Ithamar, and colleagues in the high priesthood (2Sa 20:25). 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—(Ex 6:22), Hebron (Ex 6:18; 1Ch 6:2), and Amminadab from Uzziel (Ex 6:22).
12. 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 (see on Ge 35:2; Ex 19:10, 15); and in the neglect of these rules no step could have been taken (2Ch 30:3).
16-24. David spake to the chief of the Levites to appoint … 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, 18, 21), with the instruments respectively used by each. "Ben" (1Ch 15:18) is omitted (1Ch 15:20). Either it was used merely as a common noun, to intimate that Zechariah was the son of Jaaziel or Aziel, or Ben is the same as Azaziah [1Ch 15:21].
22. Chenaniah, chief of the Levites—He was not of the six heads of the Levitical families, but a chief in consequence of his office, which required learning, without regard to birth or family.
instructed about the song—He directed all these bands as to the proper time when each was to strike in or change their notes; or, as some render the passage, "He led the burdens, for he was skilled," that is, in the custom which it was necessary to observe in the carriage of the holy things [Bertheau].
23. Berechiah and Elkanah were doorkeepers—who marched immediately in front, while Obed-edom and Jeiel went in the rear, of the ark.
25. 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.
26. it came to pass, &c.—(See on 2Sa 6:13-23).
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.
27. a robe of fine linen—Hebrew, Butz—is rather supposed in the later books to denote cotton.
an ephod—a shoulder-garment, a cincture or cape over his dress. It was worn by the priests, but was not so peculiar to them as to be forbidden others (1Sa 2:18; 22:18).
29. Michal … saw … David dancing and playing—His movements would be slow and solemn, suitable to the grave and solemn character of the music. Though his royal robes were laid aside, he was attired like the other officials, showing a becoming humility in the immediate presence of God. The feelings manifested by Michal were only an ebullition of spleen from a proud and passionate woman.