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.
• 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.”
• 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

1After David had constructed buildings for himself in the City of David, he prepared a place for the ark of God and pitched a tent for it. 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.” 3David assembled all Israel in Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the Lord to the place he had prepared for it. 4He called together the descendants of Aaron and the Levites:

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“Take a census of the Kohathite branch of the Levites by their clans and families.
• Numbers 7:9But Moses did not give any to the Kohathites, because they were to carry on their shoulders the holy things, for which they were responsible.
• 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 and to pronounce blessings in his name, as they still do today.
• Deuteronomy 31:9So Moses wrote down this law and gave it to the Levitical priests, who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and to all the elders of Israel.
• Joshua 3:3giving orders to the people: “When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the Levitical priests carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it.
• Joshua 6:6So Joshua son of Nun called the priests and said to them, “Take up the ark of the covenant of the Lord and have seven priests carry trumpets in front of it.”
• 2 Chronicles 35:3He said to the Levites, who instructed all Israel and who had been consecrated to the Lord: “Put the sacred ark in the temple that Solomon son of David king of Israel built. It is not to be carried about on your shoulders. Now serve the Lord your God and his people Israel.
• Numbers 8:13Have the Levites stand in front of Aaron and his sons and then present them as a wave offering to the Lord.
• Numbers 18:1The Lord said to Aaron, “You, your sons and your family are to bear the responsibility for offenses connected with the sanctuary, and you and your sons alone are to bear the responsibility for offenses connected with the priesthood.
• Isaiah 66:21And I will select some of them also to be priests and Levites,” says the Lord.
• Jeremiah 33:17For this is what the Lord says: ‘David will never fail to have a man to sit 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

• Ark
• Levites

In the dictionaries

• David
• God
• Chronicles, Books of
• Kirjathjearim
• Music
• Ark of the Covenant
• Beauty
• Genealogy
• Port; Porter
• Psalms, Book of

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