So David, the elders of Israel, and the captains over thousands, went to bring the ark of Yahweh’s covenant up out of the house of Obed-Edom with joy. When God helped the Levites who bore the ark of Yahweh’s covenant, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams. David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, as were all the Levites who bore the ark, the singers, and Chenaniah the choir master with the singers; and David had an ephod of linen on him. Thus all Israel brought the ark of Yahweh’s covenant up with shouting, with sound of the cornet, with trumpets, and with cymbals, sounding aloud with stringed instruments and harps.
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1 Chronicles 15:25-28 sits inside this longer paragraph.
So David, the elders of Israel, and the captains over thousands, went to bring the ark of Yahweh’s covenant up out of the house of Obed-Edom with joy. When God helped the Levites who bore the ark of Yahweh’s covenant, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams. David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, as were all the Levites who bore the ark, the singers, and Chenaniah the choir master with the singers; and David had an ephod of linen on him. Thus all Israel brought the ark of Yahweh’s covenant up with shouting, with sound of the cornet, with trumpets, and with cymbals, sounding aloud with stringed instruments and harps. As the ark of Yahweh’s covenant came to David’s city, Michal the daughter of Saul looked out at the window, and saw king David dancing and playing; and she despised him in her heart.
Parallel Translations
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So David, the elders of Israel, and the captains over thousands, went to bring the ark of Yahweh’s covenant up out of the house of Obed-Edom with joy.
When God helped the Levites who bore the ark of Yahweh’s covenant, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams.
David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, as were all the Levites who bore the ark, the singers, and Chenaniah the choir master with the singers; and David had an ephod of linen on him.
Thus all Israel brought the ark of Yahweh’s covenant up with shouting, with sound of the cornet, with trumpets, and with cymbals, sounding aloud with stringed instruments and harps.
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So David, and the elders of Israel, and the captains over thousands, went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the house of Obed-edom with joy.
And it came to pass, when God helped the Levites that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, that they offered seven bullocks and seven rams.
And David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, and all the Levites that bare the ark, and the singers, and Chenaniah the master of the song with the singers: David also had upon him an ephod of linen.
Thus all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the LORD with shouting, and with sound of the cornet, and with trumpets, and with cymbals, making a noise with psalteries and harps.
Show all 3 translations
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So David, and the elders of Israel, and the captains over thousands, went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the house of Obed-edom with joy.
And it came to pass, when God helped the Levites that bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD, that they sacrificed seven bullocks and seven rams.
And 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.
Thus all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the LORD with shouting, and with sound of the horn, and with trumpets, and with cymbals, sounding aloud with psalteries and harps.
Cross-references (42)
- Numbers 23:29 (v26) Balaam said to Balak, “Build seven altars for me here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me here.”
- 1 Chronicles 13:8 (v28) David and all Israel played before God with all their might, even with songs, with harps, with stringed instruments, with tambourines, with…
- 1 Chronicles 29:14 (v26) But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly as this? For all things come from you, and we have given…
- Job 42:8 (v26) Now therefore, take to yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and…
- Psalms 66:13-15 (v26) I will come into your temple with burnt offerings. I will pay my vows to you, which my lips promised, and my mouth spoke, when I was in…
Show all 42 cross-references
- Numbers 23:1-4 (v26) Balaam said to Balak, “Build here seven altars for me, and prepare here seven bulls and seven rams for me.” Balak did as Balaam had spoken;…
- Numbers 29:32 (v26) “ ‘On the seventh day: seven bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without defect;
- 1 Samuel 7:12 (v26) Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and called its name Ebenezer, saying, “Yahweh helped us until now.”
- 2 Samuel 6:12-23 (v25) King David was told, “Yahweh has blessed the house of Obed-Edom, and all that belongs to him, because of God’s ark.” So David went and…
- 2 Samuel 6:13 (v26) When those who bore Yahweh’s ark had gone six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened calf.
- 1 Chronicles 15:16 (v28) David spoke to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brothers as singers with instruments of music, stringed instruments, harps, and…
- Ezekiel 45:23 (v26) The seven days of the feast he shall prepare a burnt offering to Yahweh, seven bulls and seven rams without defect daily the seven days;…
- Acts 26:22 (v26) Having therefore obtained the help that is from God, I stand to this day testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the…
- 2 Corinthians 2:16 (v26) to the one a stench from death to death, to the other a sweet aroma from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?
- 2 Corinthians 3:5 (v26) not that we are sufficient of ourselves, to account anything as from ourselves; but our sufficiency is from God,
- 1 Samuel 2:18 (v27) But Samuel ministered before Yahweh, being a child, clothed with a linen ephod.
- 2 Samuel 6:14 (v27) David danced before Yahweh with all his might; and David was clothed in a linen ephod.
- 2 Samuel 6:15 (v28) So David and all the house of Israel brought up Yahweh’s ark with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.
- 1 Chronicles 13:11-14 (v25) David was displeased, because Yahweh had broken out against Uzza. He called that place Perez Uzza, to this day. David was afraid of God…
- 2 Chronicles 5:12-13 (v28) also the Levites who were the singers, all of them, even Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun, and their sons and their brothers, arrayed in fine linen,…
- 2 Chronicles 20:27-28 (v25) Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, with Jehoshaphat in front of them, to go again to Jerusalem with joy; for Yahweh had…
- Ezra 3:10-11 (v28) When the builders laid the foundation of Yahweh’s temple, they set the priests in their clothing with trumpets, with the Levites the sons…
- Ezra 6:16 (v25) The children of Israel, the priests, the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God…
- Psalms 47:1-5 (v28) Oh clap your hands, all you nations. Shout to God with the voice of triumph! For Yahweh Most High is awesome. He is a great King over all…
- Psalms 68:25 (v28) The singers went before, the minstrels followed after, among the ladies playing with tambourines,
- Psalms 95:1-2 (v25) Oh come, let’s sing to Yahweh. Let’s shout aloud to the rock of our salvation! Let’s come before his presence with thanksgiving. Let’s…
- Psalms 98:4-6 (v28) Make a joyful noise to Yahweh, all the earth! Burst out and sing for joy, yes, sing praises! Sing praises to Yahweh with the harp, with the…
- Psalms 100:1-2 (v25) Shout for joy to Yahweh, all you lands! Serve Yahweh with gladness. Come before his presence with singing.
- Psalms 150:3-5 (v28) Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet! Praise him with harp and lyre! Praise him with tambourine and dancing! Praise him with…
- Micah 5:2 (v25) But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, being small among the clans of Judah, out of you one will come out to me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose…
- Philippians 3:3 (v25) For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh;
- Philippians 4:4 (v25) Rejoice in the Lord always! Again I will say, “Rejoice!”
- Numbers 31:14 (v25) Moses was angry with the officers of the army, the captains of thousands and the captains of hundreds, who came from the service of the war.
- Deuteronomy 1:15 (v25) So I took the heads of your tribes, wise and respected men, and made them heads over you, captains of thousands, captains of hundreds,…
- Deuteronomy 12:7 (v25) There you shall eat before Yahweh your God, and you shall rejoice in all that you put your hand to, you and your households, in which…
- Deuteronomy 12:18 (v25) but you shall eat them before Yahweh your God in the place which Yahweh your God shall choose: you, your son, your daughter, your male…
- Deuteronomy 16:11 (v25) You shall rejoice before Yahweh your God: you, your son, your daughter, your male servant, your female servant, the Levite who is within…
- Deuteronomy 16:15 (v25) You shall keep a feast to Yahweh your God seven days in the place which Yahweh chooses, because Yahweh your God will bless you in all your…
- 1 Samuel 8:12 (v25) He will appoint them to him for captains of thousands, and captains of fifties; and he will assign some to plow his ground, and to reap his…
- 1 Samuel 10:19 (v25) But you have today rejected your God, who himself saves you out of all your calamities and your distresses; and you have said to him, ‘No!…
- 1 Samuel 22:7 (v25) Saul said to his servants who stood around him, “Hear now, you Benjamites! Will the son of Jesse give everyone of you fields and vineyards?…
- 1 Kings 8:1 (v25) Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, with all the heads of the tribes, the princes of the fathers’ households of the children of…
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this passage (17 sources)
Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.
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Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv26–27 Besides the bullock and the fat beast which David…
Besides the bullock and the fat beast which David offered at every sixth pace, 2 Sam. 6:13.
That is, gave them strength to execute their office.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv25–27 1Ch 15:25 So David, and the elders of Israel,…
1Ch 15:25 So David, and the elders of Israel, and the captains over thousands, went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the house of Obededom with joy.
Ver. 25. With joy.] All God’s services must be performed with joy, or else they lose their lustre.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv26–27 When God helped the Levites; either,
When God helped the Levites; either,
1. By giving them strength to carry their burden; or rather,
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2. By encouraging them in their work with some comfortable sign of his presence with them, and approbation of their work and manner of carrying the ark: when they saw that he did not cut off any of the persons employed, as he had done before, but spared and favoured them; which they perceived when they had gone six paces, as appears by 2Sa 6:13.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Matthew Henry 1710 · Public Domain On v25 All things being got ready for the carrying of…
All things being got ready for the carrying of the ark to the city of David, and its reception there, we have here an account of the solemnity of this conveyance thither from the house of Obed-edom.
I. God helped the Levites that carried it. The ark was no very great burden, that those who carried it needed any extraordinary help. But, 1. It is good to take notice of the assistance of the divine providence even in those things that fall within the compass of our natural powers: if God did not help us, we could not stir a step. 2. In all our religious exercises we must particularly derive help from heaven. See Act 26:22. All our sufficiency for holy duties is from God. 3. The Levites, remembering the breach upon Uzza, were probably ready to tremble when they took up the ark; but God helped them, that is, he encouraged them to it, silenced their fears, and strengthened their faith. 4. God helped them to do it decently and well, and without making any mistake. If we perform any religious duties so as to escape a breach, and come off with our lives, we must own it is God that helps us; for, if left to ourselves, we should be guilty of some fatal miscarriages. God's ministers that bear the vessels of the Lord have special need of divine help in their ministrations, that God in them may be glorified and his church edified. And, if God help the Levites, the people have the benefit of it.
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II. When they experienced the tokens of God's presence with them they offered sacrifices of praise to him, Ch1 15:26. This also he helped them to do. They offered these bullocks and rams perhaps by way of atonement for the former error, that it might not now be remembered against them, as well as by way of acknowledgment for the help now received.
III. There were great expressions of rejoicing used: the sacred music was played, David danced, the singers sang, and the common people shouted, Ch1 15:27, Ch1 15:28. This we had before, Sa2 6:14, Sa2 6:15. Learn hence, 1. That we serve a good master, who delights to have his servants sing at their work. 2. That times of public reformation are, and should be, times of public rejoicing. Those are unworthy of the ark that are not glad of it. 3. It is not any disparagement to the greatest of men to show themselves zealous in the acts of devotion. Michal indeed despised David (Ch1 15:29); but her despising him did not make him at all despicable; he did not regard it himself, nor did any that were wise and good (and why should we covet the esteem of any but such?) think the worse of him.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible (1708–1710) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv25–27 And it came to pass, when God helped the…
And it came to pass, when God helped the Levites that bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord,.... Not merely granted them bodily strength to carry it, which did not require a great deal; but helped them to carry it with cheerfulness, and without fear, and so as to commit no error, nor in any respect provoke his displeasure, as when it was brought before from Kirjathjearim:
that they offered seven bullocks and seven rams; by way of thanksgiving, besides what David offered; and this was done by the way, see Sa2 6:13.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On vv26–27 Helped - Encouraging them in their work with some…
Helped - Encouraging them in their work with some comfortable sign of his presence with them. In all our religious exercises, we must derive help from heaven. God's ministers that bare the vessels of the Lord, have special need of divine help in their ministrations, that God may be glorified thereby, and the people edified.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv26–27 Verse 26. God helped the Levites] When they saw…
Verse 26. God helped the Levites] When they saw that God had made no breach among them, as he had in the case of Uzza, in gratitude for their preservation, and his acceptance of their labour, they sacrificed seven bullocks and seven rams.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On vv26–27 1Ch 15:26. God helped the Levites — Not only…
1Ch 15:26. God helped the Levites — Not only preserved them from committing any error, so that no plague was inflicted upon them as had happened to Uzza, but gave them strength to bear their burden, and encouraged them in their work with some comfortable sign of his presence with them, and approbation of them.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On vv26–27 When God helped the Levites - The death of…
When God helped the Levites - The death of Uzza had deeply impressed both David and the Levites, and it was doubted whether God would allow the ark to be moved anymore. Sacrificial animals were held ready; and when it appeared - by the movement of the ark six paces 2Sa 6:13, without any manifestation of the divine displeasure - that God was not opposing but rather helping the Levites in their task, the victims were at once offered.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv26–27 Rams, in thanksgiving, that they had not been treated…
Rams, in thanksgiving, that they had not been treated like Oza. (Calmet) --- The Jews pretend that the ark was no burden to the Levites. (Tirinus) --- Love makes all duties easy. (Haydock)
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On vv25–27 So David, and the elders . . . and…
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.
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv26–27 26. When God helped the Levites — By enabling…
26. When God helped the Levites — By enabling them to remove the ark six paces without injury to any one. Comp. 2Sa_6:13. The death of Uzzah had inspired a fear that Jehovah might not again allow them to remove the ark at all, but as soon as this fear appears to be groundless they offer sacrifice to God.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv25–28 25–16:3 (= 2Sa_6:12-20). The Bringing Home of the Ark.…
25–16:3 (= 2Sa_6:12-20). The Bringing Home of the Ark. Michal despises David
25, 26. So David, and the elders … went … And it came to pass … that they etc.] Render, And it came to pass that David and the elders … who went to bring up the ark …, It came even to pass when the Lord helped the Levites … that they (i.e. David and the elders) offered seven bullocks and seven rams. The phrase, it came to pass (1Ch_15:25) is repeated in 1Ch_15:26 because of the length of the parenthesis which separates it from the words, that they offered, which complete the construction. The awkwardness of the whole sentence arises from the fact that the Chronicler has filled out the briefer statement of 2Sa_6:13.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv25–28 (25) SO David, and the elders of Israel.—Literally, And…
(25) SO David, and the elders of Israel.—Literally, And it was David and the elders of Israel and princes of the thousands who were walking to bring up the Ark, &c. The preparations for the ceremony are now complete, and the procession starts. A slight change in the Hebrew (omission of the article; so Syriac and one MS. of LXX.) will improve the sense: “And it came to pass, David and the elders . . . were walking to bring up the Ark.”
To bring up the ark.—“Into the city of David” (Samuel).
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The ark of the covenant of the Lord.—A special title of the Ark, which has not occurred before in this history. It is not read in the parallel passage of Samuel, where we find only “ark of God,” and “ark of Jehovah.” The phrase may therefore indicate that the chronicler had another source besides that book. (Comp. Jos_3:3; Jos_3:17.) The parallel (2Sa_6:12) makes no mention of “the elders and captains,” but merely states in brief and somewhat abrupt fashion that David went and brought up the Ark, because he had heard of its bringing a blessing upon the house of Obed-edom.
With joy.—With set rejoicings and festal mirth.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv25–28 The clothing of the priests and Levites.
Vers. 25-29.
The clothing of the priests and Levites.
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After the journey had been accomplished, the bearers and those who had brought up the ark offered thank offerings of seven bullocks and seven rams a perfect offering, denoted by the number seven. David and all the priests and Levites that accompanied the ark were clothed in white linen. The outer garments corresponded with the cleanness, the holiness, and the joy. So the white-robed multitude are represented as singing with palms in their hands, indicating the holiness and the joy, round the true Ark, the Lord Jesus Christ, in heaven. No wonder Michal should despise David. The heart of every one not experimentally acquainted with the Lord Jesus will always do the same. "The natural man understandeth not the things of the Spirit of God: they are foolishness unto him." The Michal-heart is everywhere around us. Oh the joy of knowing Jesus! W.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Paul E. Kretzmann 1924 · Public Domain On v25 The Removal Effected
The Removal Effected
v. 25. So David and the elders of Israel and the captains over thousands, all the foremost men of the kingdom, went to bring up the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord out of the house of Obed-edom with joy. The pomp and solemnity of the occasion, together with its evident joyous aspect, were bound to make a deep impression on the minds of all who participated and thus fill them with veneration for the ark and all it stood for.
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v. 26. And it came to pass, when God helped the Levites that bare the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord, so that they did not share the fate of Uzza, that they offered seven bullocks and seven rams. Cf 2Sa 6:13.
v. 27. And David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, with a white ephod of fine byssus such as the priests wore, and all the Levites that bare the ark, and the singers, and Chenaniah, the master of the song, with the singers, he who directed the bearing of the ark. David also had upon him an ephod of linen, as the king of a priestly people.
v. 28. Thus all Israel brought up the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord with shouting, and with sound of the cornet, and with trumpets, and with cymbals, making a noise with psalteries and harps, all the various instruments being pressed into service upon this momentous occasion.
v. 29. And it came to pass, as the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord came to the City of David, the upper city of Jerusalem, that Michal, the daughter of Saul, the wife of David, looking out at a window, saw King David dancing, in a slow and solemn individual dance, and playing; and she despised him in her heart, thinking that his behavior could not be reconciled with the dignity ordinarily shown by kings. This showed the smallness of her soul; it was punished by the Lord accordingly, 2Sa 6:16. The true children of God sing and play to the Lord both in their hearts and in their anthems, being one heart and one soul, and are therefore not dissuaded by the mockery of the world.
Paul E. Kretzmann, Popular Commentary of the Bible (1921–1924) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv25, 27 the commanders over thousands
the commanders over thousands
Possible meanings are 1) the word "thousands" represents the exact amount of soldiers that each of these commanders and led. AT: "the commanders of 1,000 soldiers" or 2) the word translated as "thousands" does not represent an exact numbers but is the name of a large military division. AT: "the commanders of large military divisions" (See: Numbers)
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Obed Edom
This is the name of a man. (See: How to Translate Names)
translationWords
elder
Israel
commander
ark of the covenant
joy
God
Levi
sacrifice
cow
ewe
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.