2 Then David H1732 said, H559 None ought to carry H5375 the ark H727 of God H430 but the Levites: H3881 for them hath the LORD H3068 chosen H977 to carry H5375 the ark H727 of God, H430 and to minister H8334 unto him for H5704 ever. H5769
Take H5375 the sum H7218 of the sons H1121 of Kohath H6955 from among H8432 the sons H1121 of Levi, H3878 after their families, H4940 by the house H1004 of their fathers, H1 From thirty H7970 years H8141 old H1121 and upward H4605 even until fifty H2572 years H8141 old, H1121 all that enter H935 into the host, H6635 to do H6213 the work H4399 in the tabernacle H168 of the congregation. H4150 This shall be the service H5656 of the sons H1121 of Kohath H6955 in the tabernacle H168 of the congregation, H4150 about the most H6944 holy things: H6944 And when the camp H4264 setteth forward, H5265 Aaron H175 shall come, H935 and his sons, H1121 and they shall take down H3381 the covering H4539 vail, H6532 and cover H3680 the ark H727 of testimony H5715 with it: And shall put H5414 thereon the covering H3681 of badgers' H8476 skins, H5785 and shall spread H6566 over H4605 it a cloth H899 wholly H3632 of blue, H8504 and shall put H7760 in the staves H905 thereof. And upon the table H7979 of shewbread H6440 they shall spread H6566 a cloth H899 of blue, H8504 and put H5414 thereon the dishes, H7086 and the spoons, H3709 and the bowls, H4518 and covers H7184 to cover withal: H5262 and the continual H8548 bread H3899 shall be thereon: And they shall spread H6566 upon them a cloth H899 of scarlet, H8438 H8144 and cover H3680 the same with a covering H4372 of badgers' H8476 skins, H5785 and shall put H7760 in the staves H905 thereof. And they shall take H3947 a cloth H899 of blue, H8504 and cover H3680 the candlestick H4501 of the light, H3974 and his lamps, H5216 and his tongs, H4457 and his snuffdishes, H4289 and all the oil H8081 vessels H3627 thereof, wherewith they minister H8334 unto it: And they shall put H5414 it and all the vessels H3627 thereof within a covering H4372 of badgers' H8476 skins, H5785 and shall put H5414 it upon a bar. H4132 And upon the golden H2091 altar H4196 they shall spread H6566 a cloth H899 of blue, H8504 and cover H3680 it with a covering H4372 of badgers' H8476 skins, H5785 and shall put H7760 to the staves H905 thereof: And they shall take H3947 all the instruments H3627 of ministry, H8335 wherewith they minister H8334 in the sanctuary, H6944 and put H5414 them in a cloth H899 of blue, H8504 and cover H3680 them with a covering H4372 of badgers' H8476 skins, H5785 and shall put H5414 them on a bar: H4132 And they shall take away the ashes H1878 from the altar, H4196 and spread H6566 a purple H713 cloth H899 thereon: And they shall put H5414 upon it all the vessels H3627 thereof, wherewith they minister H8334 about it, even the censers, H4289 the fleshhooks, H4207 and the shovels, H3257 and the basons, H4219 all the vessels H3627 of the altar; H4196 and they shall spread H6566 upon it a covering H3681 of badgers' H8476 skins, H5785 and put H7760 to the staves H905 of it. And when Aaron H175 and his sons H1121 have made an end H3615 of covering H3680 the sanctuary, H6944 and all the vessels H3627 of the sanctuary, H6944 as the camp H4264 is to set forward; H5265 after H310 that, the sons H1121 of Kohath H6955 shall come H935 to bear H5375 it: but they shall not touch H5060 any holy thing, H6944 lest they die. H4191 These things are the burden H4853 of the sons H1121 of Kohath H6955 in the tabernacle H168 of the congregation. H4150
But thus do H6213 unto them, that they may live, H2421 and not die, H4191 when they approach H5066 unto the most H6944 holy things: H6944 Aaron H175 and his sons H1121 shall go in, H935 and appoint H7760 them every H376 one H376 to his service H5656 and to his burden: H4853 But they shall not go in H935 to see H7200 when the holy things H6944 are covered, H1104 lest they die. H4191
And thou shalt set H5975 the Levites H3881 before H6440 Aaron, H175 and before H6440 his sons, H1121 and offer H5130 them for an offering H8573 unto the LORD. H3068 Thus shalt thou separate H914 the Levites H3881 from among H8432 the children H1121 of Israel: H3478 and the Levites H3881 shall be mine.
This is it that belongeth unto the Levites: H3881 from twenty H6242 and five H2568 years H8141 old H1121 and upward H4605 they shall go in H935 to wait H6633 H6635 upon the service H5656 of the tabernacle H168 of the congregation: H4150 And from the age H1121 of fifty H2572 years H8141 they shall cease H7725 waiting H6635 upon the service H5656 thereof, and shall serve H5647 no more: But shall minister H8334 with their brethren H251 in the tabernacle H168 of the congregation, H4150 to keep H8104 the charge, H4931 and shall do H5647 no service. H5656 Thus shalt thou do H6213 unto the Levites H3881 touching their charge. H4931
And the LORD H3068 said H559 unto Aaron, H175 Thou and thy sons H1121 and thy father's H1 house H1004 with thee shall bear H5375 the iniquity H5771 of the sanctuary: H4720 and thou and thy sons H1121 with thee shall bear H5375 the iniquity H5771 of your priesthood. H3550 And thy brethren H251 also of the tribe H4294 of Levi, H3878 the tribe H7626 of thy father, H1 bring H7126 thou with thee, that they may be joined H3867 unto thee, and minister H8334 unto thee: but thou and thy sons H1121 with thee shall minister before H6440 the tabernacle H168 of witness. H5715 And they shall keep H8104 thy charge, H4931 and the charge H4931 of all the tabernacle: H168 only they shall not come nigh H7126 the vessels H3627 of the sanctuary H6944 and the altar, H4196 that neither they, nor ye also, die. H4191 And they shall be joined H3867 unto thee, and keep H8104 the charge H4931 of the tabernacle H168 of the congregation, H4150 for all the service H5656 of the tabernacle: H168 and a stranger H2114 shall not come nigh H7126 unto you. And ye shall keep H8104 the charge H4931 of the sanctuary, H6944 and the charge H4931 of the altar: H4196 that there be no wrath H7110 any more upon the children H1121 of Israel. H3478 And I, behold, I have taken H3947 your brethren H251 the Levites H3881 from among H8432 the children H1121 of Israel: H3478 to you they are given H5414 as a gift H4979 for the LORD, H3068 to do H5647 the service H5656 of the tabernacle H168 of the congregation. H4150 Therefore thou and thy sons H1121 with thee shall keep H8104 your priest's office H3550 for every thing H1697 of the altar, H4196 and within H1004 the vail; H6532 and ye shall serve: H5647 I have given H5414 your priest's office H3550 unto you as a service H5656 of gift: H4979 and the stranger H2114 that cometh nigh H7131 shall be put to death. H4191 And the LORD H3068 spake H1696 unto Aaron, H175 Behold, I also have given H5414 thee the charge H4931 of mine heave offerings H8641 of all the hallowed things H6944 of the children H1121 of Israel; H3478 unto thee have I given H5414 them by reason of the anointing, H4888 and to thy sons, H1121 by an ordinance H2706 for ever. H5769
For thus saith H559 the LORD; H3068 David H1732 shall never H3808 want H3772 a man H376 to sit H3427 upon the throne H3678 of the house H1004 of Israel; H3478 Neither shall the priests H3548 the Levites H3881 want H3772 a man H376 before H6440 me to offer H5927 burnt offerings, H5930 and to kindle H6999 meat offerings, H4503 and to do H6213 sacrifice H2077 continually. H3117 And the word H1697 of the LORD H3068 came unto Jeremiah, H3414 saying, H559 Thus saith H559 the LORD; H3068 If ye can break H6565 my covenant H1285 of the day, H3117 and my covenant H1285 of the night, H3915 and that there should not be day H3119 and night H3915 in their season; H6256 Then may also my covenant H1285 be broken H6565 with David H1732 my servant, H5650 that he should not have a son H1121 to reign H4427 upon his throne; H3678 and with the Levites H3881 the priests, H3548 my ministers. H8334 As the host H6635 of heaven H8064 cannot be numbered, H5608 neither the sand H2344 of the sea H3220 measured: H4058 so will I multiply H7235 the seed H2233 of David H1732 my servant, H5650 and the Levites H3881 that minister H8334 unto me.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on 1 Chronicles 15
Commentary on 1 Chronicles 15 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 15
1Ch 15:1-24. David Brings the Ark from Obededom.
1. David made him houses in the city of David—Through the liberality of his Tyrian ally (1Ch 14:1), David was enabled to erect not only a palace for himself, but to furnish suitable accommodation for his numerous family. Where polygamy prevails, each wife has a separate house or suite of apartments for herself and children.
prepared a place for the ark of God, and pitched for it a tent—that is, made an entirely new one upon the model of the former. The old tabernacle, which Moses had constructed in the wilderness and which had hitherto served the purpose of a sacred covering, was to be left at Gibeon, either because of the unwillingness of the inhabitants to part with such a venerable relic, or because there was no use for it in Jerusalem, where a more solid and sumptuous edifice was contemplated. If it appear surprising that David "made him houses" before he prepared this new tabernacle, it should be remembered that he had received no divine intimation respecting such a work.
2. 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 strict conformity to the law (Nu 4:5, 15; 7:9; 10:17).
3. David gathered all Israel together—Some are of opinion that this was done on one of the three great festivals, but at whatever time the ceremonial took place, it was of great importance to summon a general convocation of the people, many of whom, from the long-continued disorders of the kingdom, might have had little or no opportunity of knowing anything of the ark, which had been allowed to remain so long in obscurity and neglect.
4. David assembled the children of Aaron, and the Levites—The children of Aaron were the two priests (1Ch 15:11), Zadok and Abiathar, heads of the two priestly houses of Eleazar and Ithamar, and colleagues in the high priesthood (2Sa 20:25). The Levites were the chiefs of their father's house (1Ch 15:12); four belonging to the Kohathite branch, on whose shoulders the ark was to be borne; namely, Uriel, Shemaiah—descended from Elizaphan or Elzaphan—(Ex 6:22), Hebron (Ex 6:18; 1Ch 6:2), and Amminadab from Uzziel (Ex 6:22).
12. sanctify yourselves—This special sanctification, which was required on all grave and important occasions, consisted in observing the strictest abstinence, as well as cleanliness, both in person and dress (see on Ge 35:2; Ex 19:10, 15); and in the neglect of these rules no step could have been taken (2Ch 30:3).
16-24. David spake to the chief of the Levites to appoint … the singers with instruments—These eminent Levites were instructed to train the musicians and singers who were under them, for the solemn procession. The performers were ranged in three choirs or bands, and the names of the principal leaders are given (1Ch 15:17, 18, 21), with the instruments respectively used by each. "Ben" (1Ch 15:18) is omitted (1Ch 15:20). Either it was used merely as a common noun, to intimate that Zechariah was the son of Jaaziel or Aziel, or Ben is the same as Azaziah [1Ch 15:21].
22. Chenaniah, chief of the Levites—He was not of the six heads of the Levitical families, but a chief in consequence of his office, which required learning, without regard to birth or family.
instructed about the song—He directed all these bands as to the proper time when each was to strike in or change their notes; or, as some render the passage, "He led the burdens, for he was skilled," that is, in the custom which it was necessary to observe in the carriage of the holy things [Bertheau].
23. Berechiah and Elkanah were doorkeepers—who marched immediately in front, while Obed-edom and Jeiel went in the rear, of the ark.
25. So David, and the elders … and captains … went—The pious design of David in ordering all his principal ministers and officers to take part in this solemn work and imparting so much pomp and imposing ceremony to the procession, was evidently to inspire the popular mind with a profound veneration for the ark and to give the young especially salutary impressions of religion, which would be renewed by the remembrance that they had been witnesses of the august solemnity in which the king and the highest aristocracy of the land participated, vying with all other classes to do honor to the God of Israel.
26. it came to pass, &c.—(See on 2Sa 6:13-23).
they offered seven bullocks and seven rams—The Levites seem to have entered on this duty with fear and trembling; and finding that they might advance without any such indications of divine wrath as Uzza had experienced (1Ch 13:10), they offered an ox and a fatted sheep immediately after starting (2Sa 6:13), and seven bullocks and seven rams—a perfect sacrifice, at the close of the procession (1Ch 16:1). It is probable that preparations had been made for the offering of similar sacrifices at regular intervals along the way.
27. a robe of fine linen—Hebrew, Butz—is rather supposed in the later books to denote cotton.
an ephod—a shoulder-garment, a cincture or cape over his dress. It was worn by the priests, but was not so peculiar to them as to be forbidden others (1Sa 2:18; 22:18).
29. Michal … saw … David dancing and playing—His movements would be slow and solemn, suitable to the grave and solemn character of the music. Though his royal robes were laid aside, he was attired like the other officials, showing a becoming humility in the immediate presence of God. The feelings manifested by Michal were only an ebullition of spleen from a proud and passionate woman.