1 Chronicles 15:25 kjv
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.
1 Chronicles 15:25 nkjv
So David, the elders of Israel, and the captains over thousands went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD from the house of Obed-Edom with joy.
1 Chronicles 15:25 niv
So David and the elders of Israel and the commanders of units of a thousand went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD from the house of Obed-Edom, with rejoicing.
1 Chronicles 15:25 esv
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.
1 Chronicles 15:25 nlt
Then David and the elders of Israel and the generals of the army went to the house of Obed-edom to bring the Ark of the LORD's Covenant up to Jerusalem with a great celebration.
1 Chronicles 15 25 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Sam 6:12 | "Now King David was told, “The LORD has blessed the house of Obed-Edom... so David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with rejoicing." | Parallel account of the Ark's movement. |
| 1 Chr 13:9-11 | "When they came to the threshing floor of Kidon, Uzza reached out his hand to hold the ark... So the LORD’s anger burned against Uzza..." | The prior, failed attempt due to improper handling. |
| Num 4:15 | "After Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy furnishings and all the holy articles... the Kohathites are to come and carry them. But they must not touch the holy things or they will die." | Prescribed method of Ark transport by Levites. |
| Ex 25:12-14 | "Cast four gold rings for it and fasten them to its four feet... Insert the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry it." | Divine command for carrying the Ark with poles. |
| 1 Chr 15:2 | "Then David said, 'No one is to carry the ark of God except the Levites, for the LORD has chosen them to carry the ark of the LORD and to minister before him forever.'" | David's understanding and rectification of past error. |
| 1 Chr 15:13 | "Because you did not carry it the first time, the LORD our God broke out in anger against us, because we did not inquire of him about the proper way." | David's acknowledgement of previous disobedience. |
| Ps 132:1-5 | "LORD, remember David and all his self-denial... 'I will not enter my house or go to my bed... till I find a place for the LORD, a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob.'" | David's longing for a dwelling for the Ark. |
| Ps 95:1-2 | "Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song." | Joy as a hallmark of proper worship. |
| Phil 4:4 | "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" | Command to experience joy in the Lord always. |
| Deut 12:5-7 | "But you are to seek the place the LORD your God will choose... There you are to bring your burnt offerings... You and your families shall eat in the presence of the LORD your God and rejoice..." | Celebrating in God's chosen dwelling place. |
| Josh 3:3 | "When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the Levitical priests carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it." | Ark leading Israel's journeys and presence of God. |
| 1 Sam 4:21 | "She named the boy Ichabod, saying, 'The glory has departed from Israel'—because of the capture of the ark of God..." | The Ark as representing God's glory/presence. |
| Heb 9:3-5 | "Behind the second curtain was a tabernacle called the Most Holy Place, which had the gold altar of incense and the ark of the covenant..." | The Ark's significance in the Tabernacle. |
| 1 Kgs 8:1 | "Then King Solomon assembled the elders of Israel... to bring up the ark of the LORD's covenant from Zion, the City of David." | Solomon later bringing the Ark into the Temple. |
| Ps 78:60-61 | "He abandoned the tabernacle of Shiloh... he delivered his power to captivity, his glory to the hand of the foe." | Loss of the Ark representing divine displeasure. |
| Lev 10:1-2 | "Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers... and offered unauthorized fire before the LORD... So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them..." | Consequence of improper approach to God's holiness. |
| Prov 28:13 | "Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy." | David's learning from Uzzah's error demonstrates repentance. |
| 1 Chr 26:4-5 | "Obed-Edom’s sons... were Gatekeepers... for God had blessed Obed-Edom." | Blessing upon Obed-Edom's household due to the Ark. |
| Isa 12:3 | "With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation." | Spiritual joy and salvation. |
| Ezra 3:10-11 | "When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD... they sang praises to the LORD... and all the people gave a great shout of praise to the LORD..." | Joy and praise during the temple's rebuilding, paralleling joy for the Ark's presence. |
1 Chronicles 15 verses
1 Chronicles 15 25 Meaning
First Chronicles 15:25 describes the second, successful attempt by King David, joined by Israel's elders and military commanders, to transport the Ark of the Covenant from the house of Obed-Edom to Jerusalem. This sacred procession was marked by obedience to divine instruction, preparation, and profound joy, signaling a return to proper worship and the celebration of God's presence among His people after the tragic failure of the first attempt.
1 Chronicles 15 25 Context
First Chronicles 15:25 is embedded within a pivotal moment in Israelite history—King David's efforts to establish Jerusalem as the religious and political center of the nation. Immediately preceding this verse, in 1 Chronicles 13, David's first attempt to bring the Ark of the Covenant from Kiriath Jearim to Jerusalem ended in disaster. Due to their failure to follow God's specific instructions for carrying the Ark (which required Levites to bear it on poles, not for it to be transported on an oxcart), Uzzah, one of the men driving the cart, died when he reached out to steady it. This terrifying event caused David to abandon the mission, leaving the Ark at the house of Obed-Edom.
Chapter 15 records David's careful and conscientious rectification of his past mistake. He realizes the importance of adhering precisely to God's law regarding the handling of sacred objects. He specifically commissions the Levites and sanctifies them for this holy task (1 Chr 15:12-14). This corrected approach signifies David's humility, repentance, and dedication to ordering national worship according to divine commands, ensuring that the transfer of the Ark of the Covenant, God's sacred presence, would be done correctly and with the utmost reverence. The cultural context emphasizes the awe and fear associated with approaching the holy, drawing a stark contrast between pagan deities, which could be manipulated or approached casually, and Yahweh, who demands specific obedience to His revealed will. The implied polemic against informal or human-devised worship highlights the unique holiness and demands of the God of Israel.
1 Chronicles 15 25 Word analysis
- So David (וַיֵּלֶךְ דָּוִיד - Vayelekh David): This phrase signifies a deliberate, initiated action. After the previous failure and the intervening time where the Ark resided in Obed-Edom's house, David takes charge with renewed understanding. It highlights his resolved leadership and personal investment in rectifying the previous error.
- and the elders of Israel (וְזִקְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל - v'ziknei Yisra'el): These were the respected tribal leaders and representatives of the nation. Their inclusion demonstrates that the bringing of the Ark was not just a royal decree but a unified national undertaking. It underscores the communal nature of true worship and shared responsibility in serving God.
- and the commanders of thousands (וְשָׂרֵי הָאֲלָפִים - v'sarei ha'alafim): These were high-ranking military officers. Their presence emphasizes the importance and seriousness of the event, suggesting national involvement at every level—religious, civil, and military. It shows that even the protectors of the nation participated in this sacred task.
- went to bring up (לְהַעֲלוֹת - l'ha'alot): This infinitive "to bring up" or "to make ascent" often carries connotations of going up to Jerusalem, the city designated by God, and can also imply bringing an offering. Here, it refers to physically bringing the Ark up to the city of David, symbolizing the lifting up of God's presence among His people. It signifies purpose and reverence.
- the ark of the covenant (אֲרוֹן הַבְּרִית - aron habrit): This is the Ark, God's throne or footstool on earth, and the most sacred object in Israel. "Covenant" highlights the conditional relationship between God and Israel, defined by His laws and His faithful promises, all contained symbolically within the Ark. It represents God's presence, authority, and faithfulness to His people.
- of the Lord (יְהוָה - YHWH): This refers to the covenant God of Israel, Yahweh. It emphasizes His sovereign ownership and authority over the Ark and how it must be approached. This detail reinforces that the entire process is fundamentally about acknowledging and honoring God's identity and nature.
- from the house of Obed-Edom (מִבֵּית עֹבֵד אֱדֹם - mibeit Oved Edom): This specifies the temporary, hallowed resting place of the Ark after Uzzah's death. Its stay here (three months, 1 Chr 13:14) was a period of both trial and blessing, as God showered favor upon Obed-Edom and his household, demonstrating that His presence, when respected, brings blessing.
- with joy (בְּשִׂמְחָה - b'simchah): This is the emotional and spiritual disposition that accompanies proper worship. In contrast to the fear and sorrow of the previous attempt (1 Chr 13:12), joy here stems from humble obedience to God's commands and the renewed blessing of His manifest presence. It is a genuine, celebrative expression of a right relationship with God.
1 Chronicles 15 25 Bonus section
The narrative of moving the Ark, particularly the rectified second attempt in 1 Chronicles 15:25, highlights a foundational principle of worship: God is to be approached on His own terms. This specific instance serves as a historical example illustrating the boundary between common and holy, and the necessity of divine revelation for proper sacred practice. The details recorded, though seemingly technical (poles, Levites), communicate profound theological truths about God's unique holiness and sovereign authority over how He is to be worshiped. This stands in sharp contrast to the casual or self-determined religious practices often seen in surrounding cultures. This renewed reverence established a pattern for future worship in Israel and serves as an enduring lesson that joy in the Lord flows from humble obedience to His Word.
1 Chronicles 15 25 Commentary
First Chronicles 15:25 encapsulates the renewed commitment of King David and the entire nation of Israel to approaching God's holy presence according to His established directives. The prior, disastrous attempt to move the Ark, recounted in 1 Chronicles 13, served as a stark lesson: human innovation and presumption in sacred matters lead to divine judgment. This verse signifies David's humility in learning from that painful experience and his subsequent determination to conduct the Ark's transfer precisely as God commanded through the Mosaic Law (specifically regarding its transportation by Levites bearing it on poles).
The participation of "the elders of Israel and the commanders of thousands" underscores the national, communal nature of this act of worship. It wasn't merely a royal undertaking but a unified effort by civil, military, and spiritual leaders. The "joy" (b'simchah) that marks this procession is particularly significant. It replaces the fear and brokenness of the first attempt. This joy is a divine blessing, the natural outpouring of a heart and a nation that has diligently prepared and obeyed God's will. It demonstrates that genuine joy in worship is inextricably linked to holiness and proper adherence to God's Word, signifying reconciliation and the restoration of God's manifest presence in their midst. The Ark, being the focal point, was more than a mere symbol; it represented the covenant itself, embodying God's commitment to His people and their reciprocal obligations to Him. This joyful ascent anticipates the settled worship life that David would help establish in Jerusalem, foreshadowing the blessings that come from dwelling in God's presence in His appointed way.