1 David built houses for himself in the city of David. And he prepared a place for the ark of God and pitched a tent for it. 2 Then David said that no one but the Levites may carry the ark of God, for the Lord had chosen them to carry the ark of the Lord and to minister to him forever. 3 And David assembled all Israel at Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the Lord to its place, which he had prepared for it. 4 And David gathered together the sons of Aaron and the Levites: 5 of the sons of Kohath, Uriel the chief, with 120 of his brothers; 6 of the sons of Merari, Asaiah the chief, with 220 of his brothers; 7 of the sons of Gershom, Joel the chief, with 130 of his brothers; 8 of the sons of Elizaphan, Shemaiah the chief, with 200 of his brothers; 9 of the sons of Hebron, Eliel the chief, with 80 of his brothers; 10 of the sons of Uzziel, Amminadab the chief, with 112 of his brothers. 11 Then David summoned the priests Zadok and Abiathar, and the Levites Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab, 12 and said to them, “You are the heads of the fathers' houses of the Levites. Consecrate yourselves, you and your brothers, so that you may bring up the ark of the Lord, the God of Israel, to the place that I have prepared for it. 13 Because you did not carry it the first time, the Lord our God broke out against us, because we did not seek him according to the rule.” 14 So the priests and the Levites consecrated themselves to bring up the ark of the Lord, the God of Israel. 15 And the Levites carried the ark of God on their shoulders with the poles, as Moses had commanded according to the word of the Lord.
16 David also commanded the chiefs of the Levites to appoint their brothers as the singers who should play loudly on musical instruments, on harps and lyres and cymbals, to raise sounds of joy. 17 So the Levites appointed Heman the son of Joel; and of his brothers Asaph the son of Berechiah; and of the sons of Merari, their brothers, Ethan the son of Kushaiah; 18 and with them their brothers of the second order, Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, and Mikneiah, and the gatekeepers Obed-edom and Jeiel. 19 The singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, were to sound bronze cymbals; 20 Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah were to play harps according to Alamoth; 21 but Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah were to lead with lyres according to the Sheminith. 22 Chenaniah, leader of the Levites in music, should direct the music, for he understood it. 23 Berechiah and Elkanah were to be gatekeepers for the ark. 24 Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer, the priests, should blow the trumpets before the ark of God. Obed-edom and Jehiah were to be gatekeepers for the ark.
25 So David and the elders of Israel and the commanders of thousands went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord from the house of Obed-edom with rejoicing. 26 And because God helped the Levites who were carrying the ark of the covenant of the Lord, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams. 27 David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, as also were all the Levites who were carrying the ark, and the singers and Chenaniah the leader of the music of the singers. And David wore a linen ephod. 28 So all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the Lord with shouting, to the sound of the horn, trumpets, and cymbals, and made loud music on harps and lyres.
29 And as the ark of the covenant of the Lord came to the city of David, Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David dancing and celebrating, and she despised him in her heart. – 1 Chronicles 15:1-29 ESV
Having settled in his new capital city of Jerusalem, David began the process of constructing a house in which to live. Few details are provided about this new palace, but due to the generosity of a neighboring ruler, David’s home was likely fit for a king.
Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, also masons and carpenters to build a house for him. – 1 Chronicles 14:1 ESV
But David wasn’t satisfied with one home; according to the chronicler, he “built houses for himself in the city of David” (1 Chronicles 15:1 ESV). David’s ambitious home-building effort mostly likely reflects his understanding of his status as God’s chosen leader.
David realized that the Lord had confirmed him as king over Israel and had greatly blessed his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel. – 1 Chronicles 14:2 NLT
The number of homes he constructed probably had more to do with the size of his household than anything else. At this point in his reign, he had at least seven wives and a growing household of children. The various homes were intended to house his large and ever-expanding family.
But having completed his personal projects, David endeavored to bring the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem a second time. His earlier attempt to bring the ark into the city had ended with the untimely death of Uzzah. This tragedy had taken place because David had disobeyed God’s commands concerning the transportation of the ark. Rather than having the ark carried by the Levites, David had ordered it to be placed on an ox-drawn cart. When the oxen stumbled and the ark began to fall, Uzzah reached out to steady it and was instantaneously killed. While Uzzah’s effort had been well-intended, it violated God’s command and resulted in his death. Angered by the death of Uzzah, David ordered the ark to be left in the care of Obed-edom. But three months later, he had second thoughts when he received word that the house of Obed-edom had been blessed because of the presence of the ark. He immediately ordered a second attempt to move the ark into his new capital, and this time he did it God’s way.
The prophet Samuel records, “…when those who bore the ark of the Lord had gone six steps” (2 Samuel 6:12 ESV). This time, there was no cart, no oxen, and no alternative method of transport used. David ensured that the ark was moved using God’s prescribed method.
Then David said that no one but the Levites may carry the ark of God, for the Lord had chosen them to carry the ark of the Lord and to minister to him forever. – 1 Chronicles 15:2 ESV
David had learned a painful but valuable lesson from his first attempt to move the Ark and, on this occasion, he made sure to enlist the aid of the Levites.
“You are the leaders of the Levite families. You must purify yourselves and all your fellow Levites, so you can bring the Ark of the Lord, the God of Israel, to the place I have prepared for it. Because you Levites did not carry the Ark the first time, the anger of the Lord our God burst out against us. We failed to ask God how to move it properly.” – 1 Chronicles 15:12-13 NLT
The death of Uzzah had been tragic and unnecessary but it forced David to reflect on the error of his ways and the need for total obedience to the will of God. On this occasion, David not only ensured that the ark was carried properly but that the Levites observed all the prescribed ritual purification rites that God had commanded. He was taking no chances. He even “ordered the Levite leaders to appoint a choir of Levites who were singers and musicians to sing joyful songs to the accompaniment of harps, lyres, and cymbals” (1 Chronicles 15:16).
As the procession of priests and musicians made its way from the house of Obed-edom to Jerusalem, a great crowd of celebrants joined it, with David leading the way. Along the way, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams. It was a joyful and worshipful event, accompanied by celebratory music, sacrifices of thanksgiving, and the sight of the king dancing at the head of the procession. But not everyone shared in David’s joyful exuberance. The chronicler states that David’s wife, Michal, was less than enthused by what she saw.
When she saw King David skipping about and laughing with joy, she was filled with contempt for him. – 1 Chronicles 15:29 NLT
David had many wives, but Michal had the distinction of being his first. During his years of exile, David was forced to leave Michal behind and she ended up marrying another man. When David became king over the 11 tribes of Israel, he demanded that she be returned to him. Nothing is said of Michal’s feelings about being reunited with David, but her response to his very public display of unkingly behavior speaks volumes. The text states that “she was filled with contempt for him” (1 Chronicles 15:29 NLT). No reason is given for her deep disdain for David. Was it his choice of attire? Did his dancing embarrass her? Perhaps she was angry that he was bringing the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem. It’s clear from 1 Samuel 19:11-16 that Michal kept an idol of a false god in their home. So, it could be that she viewed the ark as an idol of David’s God and she resented him bringing it into the city.
While the motivation behind her anger is unstated, the Book of 2 Samuel makes her dissatisfaction crystal clear.
“How distinguished the king of Israel looked today, shamelessly exposing himself to the servant girls like any vulgar person might do!” – 2 Samuel 6:20 NLT
She was disgusted with David’s embarrassing lack of decorum, but there was far more behind her anger and resentment toward David than just his choice of attire and dancing skills. Michal was a conflicted woman who was dealing with a great deal of emotional and psychological baggage. She had fallen in love with David when he was a young man serving in her father’s court. But when her father turned on David and he was forced to run for his life, she became an abandoned woman. During David’s years of exile, she was given to another man and started a new life. But when David ascended to the throne, she was forcibly taken from her husband and returned to David – only to find out that he had acquired many other wives.
Michal found herself living with her former husband and his growing harem of wives and their many children. This too may have added to Michal’s anger because it appears she was childless. which was not an attractive proposition for any woman in those days, especially the wife of the king. And Michal would remain childless. Because of her hostile reaction to David, it appears he lost any affection he still held for her. Their marriage was essentially over at that point. She would remain one of his queens but she would no longer enjoy his favor or ever bear him a son.
It is impossible to read this story and not see the stark contrast between celebration and disintegration. David was building his kingdom while at the same time watching his relationship with Michal fall apart. He was constructing a house in which he would rule and reign, but he was also multiplying a household in direct violation of God’s commands. His many wives and their multitude of children would eventually bring disorder and destruction to his kingdom.
His worship of God is contrasted with his propensity to flaunt the will of God. This man after God’s own heart exhibits a strange mix of humility and pride. He was obsessed with establishing his image as a king, but also willing to humble himself before the God who had placed him on the throne. In David’s response to Michal, you get a subtle sense of his pride mixed with humility.
“I was dancing before the Lord, who chose me above your father and all his family! He appointed me as the leader of Israel, the people of the Lord, so I celebrate before the Lord. Yes, and I am willing to look even more foolish than this, even to be humiliated in my own eyes! But those servant girls you mentioned will indeed think I am distinguished!” – 2 Samuel 6:21-22 NLT
David knew that it was God who had made him king but he also enjoyed the fact that he was the king. He displays a subtle sense of superiority and pride in his statement. He had been chosen by God. He was the king. And while he was willing to humble himself before God, he was also counting on the fact that God was going to distinguish him as a king. Dancing and disdain. Pride and humility. Celebration and disintegration. Palaces and tents. Worship and wives. Blessings and barrenness. Burnt offerings and burned relationships.
But the other interesting insight gleaned from this chapter is that while David built a brick-and-mortar house for himself, he simply “pitched a tent” for the Ark of the Covenant. He would later regret this oversight and voice his desire to build a great house for God (2 Samuel 7). But at this point in his reign, it appears that David was busy establishing and solidifying his rule with all the trappings of kingly success; at least, according to the worldly standards of his day.
This is a passage of contrasts, and David’s reign would be one of contradictions and conflicts. There would be times of great blessing and significance, but there would also be times of pain, sorrow, and disobedience. David was going to continue to learn the truth found in the words of Samuel, spoken to David’s predecessor.
"What is more pleasing to the LORD: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.” – 1 Samuel 15:22 NLT
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.