The children of the Levites bore God’s ark on their shoulders with its poles, as Moses commanded according to Yahweh’s word.
Parallel translations
- KJV And the children of the Levites bare the ark of God upon their shoulders with the staves thereon, as Moses commanded according to the word of the LORD.
- BSB And the Levites carried the ark of God on their shoulders with the poles, as Moses had commanded in accordance with the word of the LORD.
- NKJV And the children of the Levites bore the ark of God on their shoulders, by its poles, as Moses had commanded according to the word of the Lord.
- NASB The sons of the Levites carried the ark of God on their shoulders with the poles on them, just as Moses had commanded in accordance with the word of the Lord.
- NLT Then the Levites carried the Ark of God on their shoulders with its carrying poles, just as the Lord had instructed Moses.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The Levites carried the ark on their shoulders with its poles, just as Moses had commanded by God's word. This time the ark was transported exactly as the Law required.
Overview
Now the ark is borne correctly, on the Levites' shoulders by its poles, 'as Moses commanded according to Yahweh's word' (Exodus 25:14-15; Numbers 7:9). The deliberate contrast with the cart of chapter 13 is the heart of the narrative: obedience to God's word replaces well-meaning improvisation. The verse celebrates worship done God's way and stands as an enduring call to honor God according to His revealed will.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- Num 4:15“When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the sanctuary, and all the furniture of the sanctuary, as the camp moves forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to carry it: but they shall not touch the sanctuary, lest they die. These things are the burden of the sons of Kohath in the Tent of Meeting.
- Num 7:9But to the sons of Kohath he gave none, because the service of the sanctuary belonged to them; they carried it on their shoulders.
- 2 Chr 5:9The poles were so long that the ends of the poles were seen from the ark in front of the inner sanctuary; but they were not seen outside; and it is there to this day.
- 1 Kgs 8:8The poles were so long that the ends of the poles were seen from the holy place before the inner sanctuary; but they were not seen outside. They are there to this day.
- Num 4:5–6When the camp moves forward, Aaron shall go in, and his sons, and they shall take down the veil of the screen, and cover the ark of the Testimony with it,
- Exod 40:20He took and put the testimony into the ark, and set the poles on the ark, and put the mercy seat above on the ark.
- Exod 37:3–5He cast four rings of gold for it, in its four feet; even two rings on its one side, and two rings on its other side.
- Exod 25:12–15You shall cast four rings of gold for it, and put them in its four feet. Two rings shall be on the one side of it, and two rings on the other side of it.
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The genealogies and the everlasting covenant with David trace the single thread of promise running through the generations straight to the Christ in whom the line reaches its goal.
How 1 Chronicles 15:15 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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