1 Chronicles 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.