English Standard Version
1 Chronicles 15:2
2Then 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.
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.”
- 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.”
- New Living Translation (NLT)Then he commanded, “No one except the Levites may carry the Ark of God. The Lord has chosen them to carry the Ark of the Lord and to serve him forever.”
Context of 1 Chronicles 15:2
1David built houses for himself in the city of David. And he prepared a place for the ark of God and pitched a tent for it. 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. 3And David assembled all Israel at Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the Lord to its place, which he had prepared for it. 4And David gathered together the sons of Aaron and the Levites:
Read all of 1 Chronicles 151 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"Take a census of the sons of Kohath from among the sons of Levi, by their clans and their fathers' houses,
- Numbers 7:9But to the sons of Kohath he gave none, because they were charged with the service of the holy things that had to be carried on the shoulder.
- Deuteronomy 10:8At that time the Lord set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant of the Lord to stand before the Lord to minister to him and to bless in his name, to this day.
- Deuteronomy 31:9Then Moses wrote this law and gave it to the priests, the sons of Levi, who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and to all the elders of Israel.
- Joshua 3:3and commanded the people, "As soon as you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God being carried by the Levitical priests, then you shall set out from your place and follow it.
- Joshua 6:6So Joshua the son of Nun called the priests and said to them, "Take up the ark of the covenant and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the Lord."
- 2 Chronicles 35:3And he said to the Levites who taught all Israel and who were holy to the Lord, "Put the holy ark in the house that Solomon the son of David, king of Israel, built. You need not carry it on your shoulders. Now serve the Lord your God and his people Israel.
- Numbers 8:13And you shall set the Levites before Aaron and his sons, and shall offer them as a wave offering to the Lord.
- Numbers 18:1So the Lord said to Aaron, "You and your sons and your father's house with you shall bear iniquity connected with the sanctuary, and you and your sons with you shall bear iniquity connected with your priesthood.
- Isaiah 66:21And some of them also I will take for priests and for Levites, says the Lord.
- Jeremiah 33:17"For thus says the Lord: David shall never lack a man to sit on the throne of the house 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
In the dictionaries
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
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Commentaries