1 Chronicles 15:2
New International Version
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 Living Translation
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.”

English Standard Version
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.

Berean Standard Bible
Then David said, “No one but the Levites may carry the ark of God, because the LORD has chosen them to carry the ark of the LORD and to minister before Him forever.”

King James Bible
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 King James Version
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 American Standard Bible
Then David said, “No one is to carry the ark of God except the Levites; for the LORD chose them to carry the ark of the LORD and to serve Him forever.”

NASB 1995
Then David said, “No one is to carry the ark of God but the Levites; for the LORD chose them to carry the ark of God and to minister to Him forever.”

NASB 1977
Then David said, “No one is to carry the ark of God but the Levites; for the LORD chose them to carry the ark of God, and to minister to Him forever.”

Legacy Standard Bible
And David said, “No one is to carry the ark of God but the Levites; for Yahweh chose them to carry the ark of God and to minister to Him forever.”

Amplified Bible
Then David said, “No one is to carry the ark of God except the Levites; for the LORD chose them to carry the ark of God and to minister to Him forever.”

Christian Standard Bible
Then David said, “No one but the Levites may carry the ark of God, because the LORD has chosen them to carry the ark of the LORD and to minister before him forever.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then David said, “No one but the Levites may carry the ark of God, because the LORD has chosen them to carry the ark of the LORD and to minister before Him forever.”

American Standard Version
Then David said, None ought to carry the ark of God but the Levites: for them hath Jehovah chosen to carry the ark of God, and to minister unto him for ever.

Contemporary English Version
He said, "Only Levites will be allowed to carry the chest, because the LORD has chosen them to do that work and to serve him forever."

English Revised Version
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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
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.

Good News Translation
Then he said, "Only Levites should carry the Covenant Box, because they are the ones the LORD chose to carry it and to serve him forever."

International Standard Version
Then David ordered that the Ark of God was to be carried by no one except the descendants of Levi, because the LORD had chosen them to carry the ark of the LORD and to serve him forever.

Majority Standard Bible
Then David said, “No one but the Levites may carry the ark of God, because the LORD has chosen them to carry the ark of the LORD and to minister before Him forever.”

NET Bible
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.

New Heart English Bible
Then David said, "No one ought to carry the ark of God but the Levites. For the LORD has chosen them to carry the ark of God, and to minister to him forever."

Webster's Bible Translation
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 to him for ever.

World English Bible
Then David said, “No one ought to carry God’s ark but the Levites. For Yahweh has chosen them to carry God’s ark, and to minister to him forever.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Then David said, “None [are] to carry the Ark of God, except the Levites, for YHWH has fixed on them to carry the Ark of God and to serve Him for all time.”

Young's Literal Translation
Then said David, 'None are to carry the ark of God, except the Levites, for on them hath Jehovah fixed to carry the ark of God, and to serve Him -- unto the age.'

Smith's Literal Translation
Then David said, None to lift up the ark of God but the Levites: for in them God chose to lift up the ark of God, and to serve him even to forever.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Then David said: No one ought to carry the ark of God, but the Levites, whom the Lord hath chosen to carry it, and to minister unto himself for ever.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Then David said: “It is illicit for anyone to carry the ark of God except the Levites, whom the Lord chose to carry it and to minister to himself, even unto eternity.”

New American Bible
At that time he said, “No one may carry the ark of God except the Levites, for the LORD chose them to carry the ark of the LORD and to minister to him forever.”

New Revised Standard Version
Then David commanded that no one but the Levites were to carry the ark of God, for the LORD had chosen them to carry the ark of the LORD and to minister to him forever.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Then David commanded the Levites to carry the ark of the LORD and the instruments of the tabernacle; for the Levites the LORD had chosen to minister and to carry the ark of the LORD, and to look after it for ever.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Then David was telling the Levites to pick up the Ark of LORD JEHOVAH and the articles of the Tabernacle, because LORD JEHOVAH chose the Levites to serve and to carry the ark of LORD JEHOVAH and for his service for eternity.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
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 the LORD, and to minister unto Him for ever.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Then said David, It is not lawful for any to bear the ark of God, but the Levites; for the Lord has chosen them to bear the ark of the Lord, and to minister to him for ever.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Preparations to Move the Ark
1David constructed buildings for himself in the City of David, and he prepared a place for the ark of God and pitched a tent for it. 2Then David said, “No one but the Levites may carry the ark of God, because the LORD has chosen them to carry the ark of the LORD and to minister before Him forever.” 3And David assembled all Israel in Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the LORD to the place he had prepared for it.…

Cross References
Numbers 4:15
When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy objects and all their equipment, as soon as the camp is ready to move, the Kohathites shall come and do the carrying. But they must not touch the holy objects, or they will die. These are the transportation duties of the Kohathites regarding the Tent of Meeting.

Deuteronomy 10:8
At 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 serve Him, and to pronounce blessings in His name, as they do to this day.

1 Chronicles 13:9-10
When they came to the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark, because the oxen had stumbled. / And the anger of the LORD burned against Uzzah, and He struck him down because he had put his hand on the ark. So he died there before God.

2 Samuel 6:6-7
When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen had stumbled. / And the anger of the LORD burned against Uzzah, and God struck him down on the spot for his irreverence, and he died there beside the ark of God.

1 Chronicles 6:31-32
These are the men David put in charge of the music in the house of the LORD after the ark rested there. / They ministered with song before the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting, until Solomon built the house of the LORD in Jerusalem. And they performed their duties according to the regulations given them.

1 Chronicles 23:26
So now the Levites no longer need to carry the tabernacle or any of the articles for its service.”

1 Chronicles 16:4-6
David appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of the LORD, to celebrate, to give thanks, and to praise the LORD, the God of Israel. / Asaph was the chief, Zechariah was second, then Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-edom, and Jeiel. They were to play the harps and lyres, while Asaph sounded the cymbals / and the priests Benaiah and Jahaziel blew the trumpets regularly before the ark of the covenant of God.

1 Chronicles 16:37-42
So David left Asaph and his associates there before the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to minister there regularly according to the daily requirements, / along with Obed-edom and his sixty-eight relatives. Obed-edom son of Jeduthun, and also Hosah, were to be gatekeepers. / And David left Zadok the priest and his fellow priests before the tabernacle of the LORD at the high place in Gibeon ...

1 Chronicles 26:12-19
These divisions of the gatekeepers, through their chief men, had duties for ministering in the house of the LORD, just as their relatives did. / They cast lots for each gate, according to their families, young and old alike. / The lot for the East Gate fell to Shelemiah. Then lots were cast for his son Zechariah, a wise counselor, and the lot for the North Gate fell to him. ...

2 Chronicles 8:14
In keeping with the ordinances of his father David, Solomon appointed the divisions of the priests over their service, and the Levites for their duties to offer praise and to minister before the priests according to the daily requirement. He also appointed gatekeepers by their divisions at each gate, for this had been the command of David, the man of God.

2 Chronicles 29:25
Hezekiah stationed the Levites in the house of the LORD with cymbals, harps, and lyres according to the command of David, of Gad the king’s seer, and of Nathan the prophet. For the command had come from the LORD through His prophets.

2 Chronicles 35:3
To the Levites who taught all Israel and were holy to the LORD, Josiah said: “Put the holy ark in the temple built by Solomon son of David king of Israel. It is not to be carried around on your shoulders. Now serve the LORD your God and His people Israel.

Hebrews 9:4
containing the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. Inside the ark were the gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant.

Hebrews 7:11-14
Now if perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on this basis the people received the law), why was there still need for another priest to appear—one in the order of Melchizedek and not in the order of Aaron? / For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed as well. / He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar. ...

Hebrews 5:1-4
Every high priest is appointed from among men to represent them in matters relating to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. / He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and misguided, since he himself is subject to weakness. / That is why he is obligated to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people. ...


Treasury of Scripture

Then David said, None ought to carry the ark of God but the Levites: for them has the LORD chosen to carry the ark of God, and to minister to him for ever.

them hath

Numbers 4:2-15,19,20
Take the sum of the sons of Kohath from among the sons of Levi, after their families, by the house of their fathers, …

Numbers 7:9
But unto the sons of Kohath he gave none: because the service of the sanctuary belonging unto them was that they should bear upon their shoulders.

Deuteronomy 10:8
At that time the LORD separated the tribe of Levi, to bear the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to stand before the LORD to minister unto him, and to bless in his name, unto this day.

to minister

Numbers 8:13,14,24-26
And thou shalt set the Levites before Aaron, and before his sons, and offer them for an offering unto the LORD…

Numbers 18:1-8
And the LORD said unto Aaron, Thou and thy sons and thy father's house with thee shall bear the iniquity of the sanctuary: and thou and thy sons with thee shall bear the iniquity of your priesthood…

Isaiah 66:21
And I will also take of them for priests and for Levites, saith the LORD.

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1 Chronicles 15
1. David having prepared a place for the ark,
15. the priests and Levites bring it from Obed-Edom
25. He performs the solemnity thereof with great joy
29. Michal despises him














Then David said
This phrase marks a pivotal moment in the narrative, highlighting David's role as both a king and a spiritual leader. The Hebrew root for "said" (אָמַר, 'amar) often conveys not just speech but a declaration of intent or command. David's leadership is underscored here, as he seeks to align the nation's practices with divine instructions. Historically, this reflects a period of reformation and restoration of proper worship practices in Israel.

No one but the Levites
The Levites were a tribe set apart for religious duties, as outlined in the Torah. The Hebrew term for Levites (לֵוִי, Levi) is derived from a root meaning "to join" or "to attach," signifying their unique role in being attached to the service of God. This exclusivity underscores the importance of adhering to God's established order, emphasizing holiness and obedience. Archaeological findings, such as ancient Levitical cities, affirm their distinct societal role.

may carry the ark of God
The Ark of the Covenant was the most sacred object in Israel, symbolizing God's presence. The Hebrew word for "carry" (נָשָׂא, nasa) implies a lifting or bearing, which is both a physical and spiritual responsibility. The ark's transportation was not merely a logistical task but a profound act of worship and reverence. This directive reflects the necessity of approaching God with the utmost respect and adherence to His commands.

because the LORD has chosen them
The concept of divine choice is central to Israel's understanding of their relationship with God. The Hebrew root for "chosen" (בָּחַר, bachar) conveys a deliberate selection, emphasizing God's sovereign will. This choice of the Levites is a reminder of God's authority and the importance of divine election in fulfilling His purposes. It also serves as a call to recognize and honor God's decisions in our lives.

to carry the ark of the LORD
Reiterating the sacred duty of the Levites, this phrase emphasizes the ark's significance as the "ark of the LORD." The repetition underscores the seriousness of the task and the reverence due to God. The use of "LORD" (יהוה, YHWH) highlights the covenantal relationship between God and Israel, reminding the reader of His faithfulness and the people's responsibility to uphold His commands.

and to minister before Him forever
The Hebrew word for "minister" (שָׁרַת, sharath) implies service and attendance, often used in the context of priestly duties. This eternal aspect ("forever") signifies the perpetual nature of the Levites' role, pointing to an unending commitment to serve God. This phrase inspires believers to consider their own service to God as a lifelong, enduring commitment, reflecting the eternal nature of God's kingdom and His unchanging purposes.

(2) Then.--This word is here a real note of time. It seems to denote the end of the three months' interval mentioned in 1Chronicles 13:14.

None ought to carry the ark of God but the Levites.--See Numbers 4:5-15, where the Kohathite Levites are appointed to carry the Ark and other sacred objects; and the more definite Deuteronomy 10:8 : "At that time the Lord separated the tribe of Levi, to bear the ark of the covenant of the Lord, to stand before the Lord to minister unto him, and to bless in his name, unto this day." David's enunciation of the law is a tacit acknowledgment that on the former occasion (1Chronicles 13:7-10) it had not been observed. That the Ark was now duly carried by bearers is expressly stated in the older account (2Samuel 6:13), though their being Levites is not noticed. . . .

Verse 2. - This verse together with vers. 12-15 show that the severe lesson of the destruction of Uzzah had been laid to heart, and had made David supremely anxious to take better counsel of the Law. Uzzah, though possibly the son of a Levite, more probably of a Hivite (Joshua 9:7, 17), was not a priest, nor is there any sufficient evidence that he was a Levite; and most distinct was the order of the Law (Numbers 1:51-53; Numbers 3:29-32; 4:15420), that "when the tabernacle setteth forward, the Levites shall take it down; and when the tabernacle is to be pitched, the Levites shall set it up; and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death." So the sons of Kohath are to come to bear the sanctuary with all its sacred vessels, "but they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die." Many things were allowed to be carried on waggons under the charge of the Gershonites and Merarites, but the strict contents of the sanctuary were to be borne in a specified manner by the Kohathites.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Then
אָ֚ז (’āz)
Adverb
Strong's 227: At that time, place, therefore

David
דָּוִ֔יד (dā·wîḏ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1732: David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse

said,
אָמַ֣ר (’ā·mar)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“No
לֹ֤א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

one but
כִּ֖י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

the Levites
הַלְוִיִּ֑ם (hal·wî·yim)
Article | Noun - proper - masculine plural
Strong's 3881: Levites -- descendant of Levi

may carry
לָשֵׂאת֙ (lā·śêṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 5375: To lift, carry, take

the ark
אֲר֣וֹן (’ă·rō·wn)
Noun - common singular construct
Strong's 727: A chest, ark

of God,
הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים (hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

because
כִּי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

the LORD
יְהוָ֗ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

has chosen
בָּחַ֣ר (bā·ḥar)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 977: To try, select

them to carry
לָשֵׂ֞את (lā·śêṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 5375: To lift, carry, take

the ark
אֲר֧וֹן (’ă·rō·wn)
Noun - common singular construct
Strong's 727: A chest, ark

of the LORD
יְהוָ֛ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

and to minister
וּֽלְשָׁרְת֖וֹ (ū·lə·šā·rə·ṯōw)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 8334: To attend as a, menial, worshipper, to contribute to

before Him
עַד־ (‘aḏ-)
Preposition
Strong's 5704: As far as, even to, up to, until, while

forever.”
עוֹלָֽם׃ (‘ō·w·lām)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5769: Concealed, eternity, frequentatively, always


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OT History: 1 Chronicles 15:2 Then David said None ought to carry (1 Chron. 1Ch iCh i Ch 1 chr 1chr)
1 Chronicles 15:1
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