New English Translation
1 Chronicles 15:2
2Then David said, “Only the Levites may carry the ark of God, for the Lord chose them to carry the ark of the Lord and to serve before him perpetually.
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 constructed buildings in the City of David; he then prepared a place for the ark of God and pitched a tent for it. Then David said, “Only the Levites may carry the ark of God, for the Lord chose them to carry the ark of the Lord and to serve before him perpetually. 3David assembled all Israel at Jerusalem to bring the ark of the Lord up to the place he had prepared for it. 4David gathered together the descendants 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 Kohathites from among the Levites, by their families and by their clans,
- Numbers 7:9But to the Kohathites he gave none, because the service of the holy things, which they carried on their shoulders, was their responsibility.
- Deuteronomy 10:8At that time the Lord set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the Lord’s covenant, to stand before the Lord to serve him, and to formulate blessings in his name, as they do to this very day.
- Deuteronomy 31:9Then Moses wrote down this law and gave it to the Levitical priests, who carry the ark of the Lord’s covenant, and to all Israel’s elders.
- Joshua 3:3and commanded the people: “When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God being carried by the Levitical priests, you must leave here and walk behind it.
- Joshua 6:6So Joshua son of Nun summoned the priests and instructed them, “Pick up the ark of the covenant, and seven priests must carry seven rams’ horns in front of the ark of the Lord.”
- 2 Chronicles 35:3He told the Levites, who instructed all Israel about things consecrated to the Lord, “Place the holy ark in the temple which King Solomon son of David of Israel built. Don’t carry it on your shoulders. Now serve the Lord your God and his people Israel!
- Numbers 8:13You are to have the Levites stand before Aaron and his sons, and then offer them as a wave offering to the Lord.
- Numbers 18:1The Lord said to Aaron, “You and your sons and your tribe with you must bear the iniquity of the sanctuary, and you and your sons with you must bear the iniquity of your priesthood.
- Isaiah 66:21And I will choose some of them as priests and Levites,” says the Lord.
- Jeremiah 33:17For I, the Lord, promise: “David will never lack a successor to occupy the throne 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
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
New English Translation — © 1996-2016 Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C.
Commentaries