1 Chronicles 15:2

1 Chronicles 15:2 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Then David said, None ought to carry the ark of God but the Levites: for them hath the Lord chosen to carry the ark of God, and to minister unto him for ever.
• New International Version (NIV)Then David said, “No one but the Levites may carry the ark of God, because the Lord chose them to carry the ark of the Lord and to minister before him forever.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)Then David said that no one but the Levites may carry the ark of God, for the Lord had chosen them to carry the ark of the Lord and to minister to him forever.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then David said, “No one may carry the ark of God but the Levites, for the Lord has chosen them to carry the ark of God and to minister before Him forever.”

Context of 1 Chronicles 15:2

1David built houses for himself in the City of David. He put up a tent as a place where he would put God's Covenant Box. Then David said, ‘Only the Levites may carry God's Covenant Box. The Lord chose them to do that. He chose them to serve him for ever.’ 3David brought all the Israelites together in Jerusalem. He said that they should bring the Lord's Covenant Box to the place that he had prepared for it. 4Then David brought together the descendants of Aaron and the other Levites. They were:

1 Chronicles 15:2 word by word

אָ֚ז אָמַ֣ר דָּוִ֔יד לֹ֤א לָשֵׂאת֙ אֶת־אֲר֣וֹן הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים כִּ֖י אִם־הַלְוִיִּ֑ם כִּי־בָ֣ם׀ בָּחַ֣ר יְהוָ֗ה לָשֵׂ֞את אֶת־אֲר֧וֹן יְהוָ֛ה וּֽלְשָׁרְת֖וֹ עַד־עוֹלָֽם׃ סRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Then Davidדָּוִדdâvid dâvîyd · DavidH1732
• saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• None ought to carryנָשָׂאnâώâ' nâsâh · to lift: bearH5375
• the arkאֲרוֹן'ârôn 'ârôn · arkH727
• of Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
• but the Levitesלֵוִיlêvîyîy lêvîy · LeviH3881
• for them hath the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• chosenבָּחַרbâchar · to chooseH977
• of Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
• and to ministerשָׁרַתshârath · to ministerH8334
• unto him forעַד‛ad · tillH5704
• everעוֹלָם‛ôlâm ‛ôlâm · forever: enduringH5769

Cross-references for 1 Chronicles 15:2

• Numbers 4:2‘Write a list of the people in Kohath's clan in their families. That list must be separate from the list of the other Levites.
• Numbers 7:9But the descendants of Kohath had to carry everything that was special on their shoulders. So Moses did not give any carts or oxen to the descendants of Kohath.
• Deuteronomy 10:8At that time, the Lord chose the tribe of Levi to carry the Lord's Covenant Box. He chose them to be his special servants. They had to pray for the Lord to bless his people. They still do these things today.
• Deuteronomy 31:9Moses wrote down all the rules of God's Law. He gave them to the Levite priests who carry the Lord's Covenant Box. He also gave them to the leaders of the Israelites.
• Joshua 3:3They commanded the people, ‘The Levite priests will carry the Covenant Box of the Lord your God. When you see them, you must leave here and you must follow them.
• Joshua 6:6Joshua called the priests to come to him. He told them, ‘Pick up the Lord's Covenant Box. Seven priests must march in front of it. They must hold seven trumpets, one each.’
• 2 Chronicles 35:3The work of the Levites was to teach all the Israelites about God's laws. The Lord had chosen them to do that special work. Josiah said to them, ‘Put the holy Covenant Box in the temple that David's son, King Solomon, built. Do not carry it on your shoulders. Now you must serve the Lord your God and his people, the Israelites.
• Numbers 8:13And you must cause the Levites to stand in front of Aaron and his sons. So they will be a special gift to the Lord.
• Numbers 18:1The Lord said to Aaron, ‘You and your sons and your family will be guilty for any wrong thing that happens in my Holy Tent. You and your sons will be guilty for any wrong thing that a priest does.
• Isaiah 66:21The Lord says, ‘I will choose some of them to be priests. And I will choose some of them to serve me as Levites.’
• Jeremiah 33:17The Lord says, “One of David's descendants will always rule as king over the nation of Israel.

Commentaries on 1 Chronicles 15:2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2None ought to carry the ark - but the Levites - It was their business; and he should have thought of this sooner, and then the unfortunate breach on Uzza would have been prevented; see 1 Chronicles 15:13.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2None ought to carry the ark of God but the Levites - Compare marginal references. We can easily understand that David, after the “breach upon Uzza” 1 Chronicles 13:11, had carefully considered all the legal requirements with respect to moving the ark, and was anxious that they should be strictly observed (compare 1 Chronicles 15:13).Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-3The first attempt to bring the ark to Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 13:1–14) failed due to improper procedure (see 15:13). This time, David prepared a place for the ark in Jerusalem and organized the Levites to carry it, as this was their responsibility (Deuteronomy 10:8; 18:5). The special tent David prepared for the ark was not the tabernacle, which was located at Gibeon at that time (see 1 Chronicles 16:39; 21:29).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22. Then David said, None ought to carry the ark of God but the Levites--After the lapse of three months (1Ch 13:14) the purpose of transporting the ark to Jerusalem was resumed. Time and reflection had led to a discovery of the cause of the painful catastrophe that marred the first attempt. In preparing for the solemn procession that was now to usher the sacred symbol into its resting-place, David took special care that the carriage should be regulated in…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Chronicles 15:2

• Ark
• Levites

In the dictionaries

• David
• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Chronicles, Books of
• Kirjathjearim
• Music
• Ark of the Covenant
• Beauty
• Chronicles, Books of
• Genealogy

Commentaries on 1 Chronicles 15

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary