Although the first disastrous attempt to bring the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem ended with the death of Uzzah, David nevertheless decides to try it again. This time, however, he resolves to follow the letter of the law and do things by the book.
David summons the heads of the Levites and says to them, "You are the heads of the families of the Levites; sanctify yourselves, you and your kindred, so that you may bring up the ark of the Lord, the God of Israel, to the place that I have prepared for it" (vs. 12). Imagine getting that assignment! The last guy who did what you're told to do got zapped by God for getting a little bit out of line. I bet the Levites swallowed hard and were extra diligent about "sanctifying themselves" to get ready to move the ark.
The end result is that David was able to get things right the second time. "And the Levites carried the ark of God on their shoulders with the poles, as Moses had commanded according to the word of the Lord" (vs. 15). With great joy and celebration, the ark - the symbol of God's presence with His people - enters into the new capital city of the united kingdom under David.
As Monty Python might observe, "And there was much rejoicing!"
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