God’s Word Translation
1 Chronicles 15:2
2Then David insisted that only the Levites carry God’s ark because the Lord had chosen them to carry his ark and to serve 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.”
- 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
1After David constructed buildings for himself in the City of David, he prepared a place for God’s ark and set up a tent for it. Then David insisted that only the Levites carry God’s ark because the Lord had chosen them to carry his ark and to serve him forever. 3David called together all Israel at Jerusalem to bring the Lord’s ark to the place he had prepared for it. 4David also called together Aaron’s descendants 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 Levites who are descended from Kohath. List them by families and households.
- Numbers 7:9But Moses gave none of these gifts to the Kohathites, because they took care of the holy things. They had to carry the holy things on their own shoulders.
- Deuteronomy 10:8At that time the Lord set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the Lord’s promise, to stand in the Lord’s presence when they serve him as priests, and to praise his name, as they still do today.
- Deuteronomy 31:9Moses wrote down these teachings and gave them to the Levitical priests who carried the ark of the Lord’s promise and to all the leaders of Israel.
- Joshua 3:3They told the people, “As soon as you see the ark of the promise of the Lord your God and the Levitical priests who carry it, break camp and follow them.
- Joshua 6:6Joshua, son of Nun, summoned the priests. He said to them, “Pick up the ark of the promise, and have seven priests carry seven rams’ horns ahead of the Lord’s ark.”
- 2 Chronicles 35:3He told the Levites, who instructed all Israel and performed ceremonies to make themselves holy to the Lord, “Put the holy ark in the temple that Solomon, son of David and king of Israel, built. It shouldn’t be carried on your shoulders any longer. Serve the Lord your God and his people Israel.
- Numbers 8:13Make the Levites stand in front of Aaron and his sons, and present them as an offering to the Lord.
- Numbers 18:1The Lord said to Aaron, “You, your sons, and your family will be responsible for any sins against the holy place. You and your sons will also be responsible for any sins you commit when you work as priests.
- Isaiah 66:21“I will make some of them priests and Levites,” declares the Lord.
- Jeremiah 33:17“This what the Lord says: David will never fail to have a descendant sitting on the throne 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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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