“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.”
That was in the place of the city, called Zion, 2 Sam. 5:7 , 9 .
“Then 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. None: Heb. It is not to carry the ark of God, but for the Levites”
Cross references: : Num. 4:2 , 20
“And David gathered all Israel together to Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the LORD unto his place, which he had prepared for it.”
From the house of Obed-Edom, 2 Sam. 6:10 , 12 .
“Of the sons of Elizaphan; Shemaiah the chief, and his brethren two hundred:”
Who was the son of Uzziel, the fourth son of Kohath, Exod. 6:18 , 22 ; Num. 3:30 .
“Of the sons of Hebron; Eliel the chief, and his brethren fourscore:”
The third son of Kohath, Exod. 6:18 .
“And 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.”
Prepare yourselves and be pure, abstain from all things whereby ye might be polluted, and so not able to come to the Tabernacle.
“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 due order.”
1 Chron. 13:10 According as he hath appointed in the law.
“And 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.”
These instruments and other ceremonies, which they observed, were instructions of their infancy, which continued to the coming of Christ.
“And 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 Obededom, and Jeiel, the porters.”
Which were inferior in dignity.
“And Zechariah, and Aziel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Unni, and Eliab, and Maaseiah, and Benaiah, with psalteries on Alamoth;”
This was an instrument of music, or a certain tune, whereunto they accustomed to sing Psalms.
“And Mattithiah, and Elipheleh, and Mikneiah, and Obededom, and Jeiel, and Azaziah, with harps on the Sheminith to excel. on the: or, on the eighth to oversee”
Which was the eighth tune, over the which he that was most excellent had charge.
“And Chenaniah, chief of the Levites, was for song: he instructed about the song, because he was skilful. was for: or, was for the carriage: he instructed about the carriage song: Heb. lifting up”
To wit, to appoint Psalms, and songs to them that sung.
“And 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 Obededom and Jehiah were doorkeepers for the ark.”
With Berechiah and Elkanah, verse 23 .
“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.”
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.
“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 David dancing and playing: and she despised him in her heart.”
It was so called because it put the Israelites in remembrance of the Lord’s covenant made with them. 2 Sam. 6:16