Bringing the Ark with Levites and Music

"None ought to carry the ark of God but the Levites: for them hath the LORD chosen to carry the ark of God." "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."

"And the children of the Levites bare the ark of God upon their shoulders with the staves thereon, as Moses commanded." Heman, Asaph and Ethan play cymbals of brass; others psalteries "on Alamoth" and harps "on the Sheminith"; "Chenaniah, chief of the Levites, was for song: he instructed about the song, because he was skilful."

"And David was clothed with a robe of fine linen… David also had upon him an ephod of linen." With shouting, cornets, trumpets and cymbals the ark comes to the city of David. "Michal the daughter of Saul looking out at a window saw king David dancing and playing: and she despised him in her heart."

Levites in Chronicles

Chronicles gives the Levites much more prominence than Samuel: as bearers of the ark, singers, gatekeepers and teachers. This reflects the Chronicler's interest in the temple personnel of his own day and his view that David founded their orders.

Musical terms

"Alamoth" and "Sheminith" also head Psalms (46; 6; 12). They may refer to pitch (high voices, the octave) or tunings; their exact meaning is lost.

Michal

Chronicles keeps Michal's contempt in one verse and omits her conversation with David (2 Samuel 6:20–23).