And David assembled. — He confers separately with the priestly order respecting their part in the procession.
The children of Aaron. — The sons of Aaron, i.e., the high priests, Zadok and Abiathar (1 Chronicles 15:11).
The Levites — i.e., the six chieftains — Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, heads of the clans of Kohath, Merari, and Gershom respectively; and Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab, additional Kohathite chiefs: all the six being at the head of their clansmen (“brethren,” 1 Chronicles 15:5-10). There were four Kohathite houses to one of Merari and Gershom, because the sub-tribe of Kohath was the elder house, and had special charge of the Ark and other most holy vessels of the sanctuary (Numbers 4:4).