1 Chronicles 15:28

Thus all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the LORD with shouting, and with sound of the cornet, and with trumpets, and with cymbals, making a noise with psalteries and harps.

Thus all Israel {H3478} brought up {H5927} the ark {H727} of the covenant {H1285} of the LORD {H3068} with shouting {H8643}, and with sound {H6963} of the cornet {H7782}, and with trumpets {H2689}, and with cymbals {H4700}, making a noise {H8085} with psalteries {H5035} and harps {H3658}.

So all Isra'el brought up the ark for the covenant of ADONAI with shouting; blowing on shofars and trumpets; and cymbals sounding with lutes and lyres.

So all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the LORD with shouting, with the sounding of rams’ horns and trumpets, and with cymbals and the music of harps and lyres.

Thus all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of Jehovah with shouting, and with sound of the cornet, and with trumpets, and with cymbals, sounding aloud with psalteries and harps.

Commentary

Context of 1 Chronicles 15:28

This verse describes the joyous and triumphant procession as King David and all Israel brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. This event marks a crucial turning point, as the Ark, symbolizing God's presence among His people, had been in various locations since its return from Philistine capture, and then at the house of Obed-Edom.

The scene in 1 Chronicles 15:28 is a stark contrast to a previous, ill-fated attempt to move the Ark, detailed in 1 Chronicles 13, where Uzza died because the Ark was transported on a new cart rather than by the Levites carrying it on poles, as prescribed by Mosaic law (Numbers 4:15). David learned from this tragedy, ensuring this second attempt followed God's specific instructions, leading to a blessed and celebratory occasion.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Joyful and Expressive Worship: The verse paints a vivid picture of unbridled joy and enthusiastic worship. The combination of "shouting" and a wide array of musical instruments—cornets, trumpets, cymbals, psalteries, and harps—demonstrates a wholehearted, national celebration of God's presence. This reflects the deep emotional and spiritual connection the Israelites felt.
  • Communal Unity: The phrase "all Israel brought up the ark" highlights the collective nature of this act of worship. It was a unified national endeavor, demonstrating solidarity and shared devotion to the LORD.
  • Obedience and Blessing: Implicitly, this success underscores the importance of obedience to God's commands. Unlike the previous attempt, this procession was conducted according to divine instruction, resulting in blessing and celebration rather than judgment. It teaches that God desires not just our devotion, but our devotion rendered in the way He prescribes.
  • The Significance of God's Presence: The Ark represented God's dwelling among His people. Its arrival in Jerusalem signified the establishment of the spiritual and political capital where God's presence would be central, foreshadowing the eventual building of the Temple.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew text emphasizes the exuberance of the occasion. The word for "shouting" is teru'ah (תְּרוּעָה), which signifies a loud noise, a shout of joy, triumph, or alarm. It's often associated with the sound of trumpets and is indicative of an outpouring of emotion. The variety of instruments mentioned (shophar - cornet, chatzotzrah - trumpets, tzeltzelim - cymbals, nevel - psalteries/lyres, kinnor - harps) points to a rich, full-bodied musical accompaniment, showcasing the ancient Israelite tradition of using diverse sounds in their worship and celebration.

Practical Application

1 Chronicles 15:28 offers valuable lessons for believers today:

  • Enthusiastic Worship: Our worship of God should be joyful, expressive, and wholehearted. It encourages us to engage fully, using our voices and talents to praise Him, much like Psalm 100:1-2 encourages us to "make a joyful noise unto the LORD."
  • The Importance of Order and Reverence: While worship should be joyful, it must also be done with reverence and in accordance with God's principles. The contrast with the previous failure reminds us that God's ways are paramount, and our actions should reflect honor for His holiness.
  • Community in Faith: The communal aspect of this event highlights the beauty and strength of corporate worship. There is power and encouragement when believers come together to celebrate God's presence and faithfulness.
  • Seeking God's Presence: Just as the Ark symbolized God's presence, believers today are called to seek God's presence in their lives and communities, understanding that He dwells among His people (Matthew 18:20).
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 1 Chronicles 13:8

    And David and all Israel played before God with all [their] might, and with singing, and with harps, and with psalteries, and with timbrels, and with cymbals, and with trumpets.

  • 1 Chronicles 15:16

    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.

  • Psalms 47:1

    ¶ To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah. O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.

  • Psalms 47:5

    ¶ God is gone up with a shout, the LORD with the sound of a trumpet.

  • 2 Chronicles 5:12

    Also the Levites [which were] the singers, all of them of Asaph, of Heman, of Jeduthun, with their sons and their brethren, [being] arrayed in white linen, having cymbals and psalteries and harps, stood at the east end of the altar, and with them an hundred and twenty priests sounding with trumpets:)

  • 2 Chronicles 5:13

    It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers [were] as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up [their] voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the LORD, [saying], For [he is] good; for his mercy [endureth] for ever: that [then] the house was filled with a cloud, [even] the house of the LORD;

  • Psalms 98:4

    ¶ Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.
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