The big picture
1 Chronicles 15 opens in verse 1 with “And David made him houses in the city of David, and prepared a place for the ark of God…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 15 with “And the children of the Levites bare the ark of God upon their shoulders with the staves…”, and closes in verse 29 with “And it came to pass, as the ark of the covenant of the LORD came to the city of David…” Repeated or prominent terms include David, brethren, Levites, LORD, chief. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
1 Chronicles · King James Version · 291 Chronicles 15:1-8
1–8: David made him houses in the city of David, and prepared a place for the…
1 Chronicles 15:1–8 opens with “And David made him houses in the city of David, and prepared a place for the ark of God, and…” and reaches “Of the sons of Elizaphan; Shemaiah the chief, and his brethren two hundred:” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 1 Chronicles 15 develops its own movement around David, brethren, Levites, LORD, chief, with particular weight carried by David, brethren, chief.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And David made him houses in the city of David, and prepared a place for the ark of God, and pitched for it a tent.” Naming David keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“And David gathered all Israel together to Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the LORD unto his place, which he had…” Naming David and Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
1 Chronicles 15:1-8
King James Version1And David made him houses in the city of David, and prepared a place for the ark of God, and pitched for it a tent.
2Then David said, None ought to carry the ark of God but the Levites: for them hath the LORD chosen to carry the ark of God, and to minister unto him for ever.
3And David gathered all Israel together to Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the LORD unto his place, which he had prepared for it.
4And David assembled the children of Aaron, and the Levites:
5Of the sons of Kohath; Uriel the chief, and his brethren an hundred and twenty:
6Of the sons of Merari; Asaiah the chief, and his brethren two hundred and twenty:
7Of the sons of Gershom; Joel the chief, and his brethren an hundred and thirty:
8Of the sons of Elizaphan; Shemaiah the chief, and his brethren two hundred:
1 Chronicles 15:9-16
9–16: Of the sons of Hebron; Eliel the chief, and his brethren fourscore:
1 Chronicles 15:9–16 opens with “Of the sons of Hebron; Eliel the chief, and his brethren fourscore:” and reaches “And David spake to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be the singers with…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 1 Chronicles 15 develops its own movement around David, brethren, Levites, LORD, chief, with particular weight carried by Levites, brethren, chief.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Of the sons of Hebron; Eliel the chief, and his brethren fourscore:” Naming Eliel and Hebron keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“And David called for Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and for the Levites, for Uriel, Asaiah, and Joel, Shemaiah, and…” Naming Abiathar and Amminadab keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“For because ye did it not at the first, the LORD our God made a breach upon us, for that we sought him not after the…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
1 Chronicles 15:9-16
King James Version9Of the sons of Hebron; Eliel the chief, and his brethren fourscore:
10Of the sons of Uzziel; Amminadab the chief, and his brethren an hundred and twelve.
11And David called for Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and for the Levites, for Uriel, Asaiah, and Joel, Shemaiah, and Eliel, and Amminadab,
12And said unto them, Ye are the chief of the fathers of the Levites: sanctify yourselves, both ye and your brethren, that ye may bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel unto the place that I have prepared for it.
13For because ye did it not at the first, the LORD our God made a breach upon us, for that we sought him not after the due order.
14So the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel.
15And the children of the Levites bare the ark of God upon their shoulders with the staves thereon, as Moses commanded according to the word of the LORD .
16And David spake to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be the singers with instruments of musick, psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding, by lifting up the voice with joy.
1 Chronicles 15:17-24
17–24: So the Levites appointed Heman the son of Joel; and of his brethren…
1 Chronicles 15:17–24 opens with “So the Levites appointed Heman the son of Joel; and of his brethren, Asaph the son of Berechiah…” and reaches “And Shebaniah, and Jehoshaphat, and Nethaneel, and Amasai, and Zechariah, and Benaiah, and…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 1 Chronicles 15 develops its own movement around David, brethren, Levites, LORD, chief, with particular weight carried by Benaiah, brethren, edom.
Context that brings the passage to life
“So the Levites appointed Heman the son of Joel; and of his brethren, Asaph the son of Berechiah; and of the sons of…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
“So the singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, were appointed to sound with cymbals of brass;” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
“And Mattithiah, and Elipheleh, and Mikneiah, and Obed-edom, and Jeiel, and Azaziah, with harps on the Sheminith to…” Naming Azaziah and Elipheleh keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
1 Chronicles 15:17-24
King James Version17So the Levites appointed Heman the son of Joel; and of his brethren, Asaph the son of Berechiah; and of the sons of Merari their brethren, Ethan the son of Kushaiah;
18And with them their brethren of the second degree, Zechariah, Ben, and Jaaziel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Unni, Eliab, and Benaiah, and Maaseiah, and Mattithiah, and Elipheleh, and Mikneiah, and Obed-edom, and Jeiel, the porters.
19So the singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, were appointed to sound with cymbals of brass;
20And Zechariah, and Aziel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Unni, and Eliab, and Maaseiah, and Benaiah, with psalteries on Alamoth;
21And Mattithiah, and Elipheleh, and Mikneiah, and Obed-edom, and Jeiel, and Azaziah, with harps on the Sheminith to excel.
22And Chenaniah, chief of the Levites, was for song: he instructed about the song, because he was skilful.
23And Berechiah and Elkanah were doorkeepers for the ark.
24And Shebaniah, and Jehoshaphat, and Nethaneel, and Amasai, and Zechariah, and Benaiah, and Eliezer, the priests, did blow with the trumpets before the ark of God: and Obed-edom and Jehiah were doorkeepers for the ark.
1 Chronicles 15:25-29
25–29: So David, and the elders of Israel, and the captains over thousands…
1 Chronicles 15:25–29 opens with “So David, and the elders of Israel, and the captains over thousands, went to bring up the ark of…” and reaches “And it came to pass, as the ark of the covenant of the LORD came to the city of David, that…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 1 Chronicles 15 develops its own movement around David, brethren, Levites, LORD, chief, with particular weight carried by David, covenant, LORD.
Context that brings the passage to life
“So David, and the elders of Israel, and the captains over thousands, went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
“And it came to pass, when God helped the Levites that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD , that they offered…” This familiar narrative signal moves the clock forward. What follows is a new scene, consequence, or answer to an earlier tension.
1 Chronicles 15:25-29
King James Version25So 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.
26And 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.
27And 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.
28Thus 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.
29And it came to pass, as the ark of the covenant of the LORD came to the city of David, that Michal the daughter of Saul looking out at a window saw king David dancing and playing: and she despised him in her heart.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
1 Chronicles 15:1 begins with “And David made him houses in the city of David, and prepared a place for the ark of God, and pitched for it a tent.”
Where the chapter turns
1 Chronicles 15:26 forms a natural hinge: “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.”
The final note
1 Chronicles 15:29 leaves the reader with “And it came to pass, as the ark of the covenant of the LORD came to the city of David, that Michal the daughter of Saul looking out at a window saw king…”
A word trail through the chapter
The words David, brethren, Levites, LORD, chief, sons help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
What is Abram invited to trust?
God's promise of an heir and innumerable descendants despite his present childlessness.
Why does the delay matter?
The covenant is larger than one lifetime and includes suffering before deliverance.
KJV words made clear
- unto
- to
- hath
- has
- spake
- spoke
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.