1. David constructed buildings for himself in the City of David. Then he prepared a place for the ark of God. He set up a tent for it.
2. He said, "Only Levites can carry the ark of God. That's because the Lord chose them to carry his ark. He chose them to serve him forever in front of the place where his throne is."
3. David gathered the whole community of Israel together in Jerusalem. He wanted to bring the ark of the Lord up to the place he had prepared for it.
4. He called together the members of the family line of Aaron. He also called the Levites together. Here are the men who came from the families of the Levites.
5. From the families of Kohath came the leader Uriel and 120 relatives.
6. From the families of Merari came the leader Asaiah and 220 relatives.
7. From the families of Gershon came the leader Joel and 130 relatives.
8. From the families of Elizaphan came the leader Shemaiah and 200 relatives.
9. From the families of Hebron came the leader Eliel and 80 relatives.
10. From the families of Uzziel came the leader Amminadab and 112 relatives.
11. David sent for the priests Zadok and Abiathar. He also sent for Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel and Amminadab. They were Levites.
12. He said to them, "You are the leaders of the families of Levi. You and the other Levites must set yourselves apart to serve the Lord and his people. You must bring up the ark of the Lord. He is the God of Israel. Put the ark in the place I've prepared for it.
13. "Remember when the anger of the Lord our God broke out against us? It was because you Levites didn't bring the ark up the first time. We didn't ask the Lord how to do it in the way the law requires."