15. Then the Levites carried the Ark of God on their shoulders with its carrying poles, just as the lord had instructed Moses.
16. David also 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.
17. So the Levites appointed Heman son of Joel along with his fellow Levites: Asaph son of Berekiah, and Ethan son of Kushaiah from the clan of Merari.
18. The following men were chosen as their assistants: Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, and the gatekeepers—Obed-edom and Jeiel.
19. The musicians Heman, Asaph, and Ethan were chosen to sound the bronze cymbals.
20. Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah were chosen to play the harps.
21. Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah were chosen to play the lyres.
22. Kenaniah, the head Levite, was chosen as the choir leader because of his skill.
23. Berekiah and Elkanah were chosen to guard the Ark.
24. Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer—all of whom were priests—were chosen to blow the trumpets as they marched in front of the Ark of God. Obed-edom and Jehiah were chosen to guard the Ark.
25. 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.