(4) David shares a meal with the people of Israel. The Israelites knew that, when the priests began to go with the Ark… 8:3-7) (cf. 9:1-5). For now, let us content ourselves with what Scripture gives us in 1 Chronicles and how David is presented in priestly ways. Generally, when carrying the Ark, the priests covered it with a large veil made of blue cloth and animal skins. As Hebrews 5:1–4, no priest selects themselves. In so doing, David is presented as leading, organizing, and even teaching the Levites, the priestly servants of Israel. 1 Sam. Questions and Answers regarding the Old Testament. In fact, 1 Chronicles 16:37, 39 go so far as to separate the ark from the tabernacle, placing the former in Jerusalem under David’s care and leaving the tabernacle in Gibeon under the care of Zadok. ), they functioned as a kingdom of priests. 39 And he left Zadok the priest and his brothers the priests before the tabernacle of the Lord in the high place that was at Gibeon. Now note the next thing we read: "They carried the ark of God on a new cart" (1Chronicles 13:7). I think so. So the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel. In the Battle of Jericho, the Ark was carried round the city once a day for six days, preceded by the armed men and seven priests sounding seven trumpets of rams' horns. Heb. Centuries later, when King Solomon built the Temple of Jerusalem, the priests brought the Ark of the Covenant to the Temple and placed it inside the Holy of Holies (3 Kgs. 2. The poles shall be in the rings of the ark; they shall not be taken from it" (Exodus 25:12-15). Yet, here in response to God’s grace, David does draw near to God in prayer, thus evidencing God’s favor on David and David’s priestly status. In the fulness of time, we learn how this resolves in Christ. And I would suggest that in 1–2 Chronicles we have something of the history that stands beside the Psalm 110 promise of a royal priest like Melchizedek. All of that and more is found in 1 Chronicles and we should keep our finger on the text to see how the story unfolds. "So Moses wrote this law and delivered it to the priests, the sons of Levi, who bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and to all the elders of Israel" (Deuteronomy 31:9). 2:1–9). Thus, priests served at the this altar. 1 Kings 8:6-9 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful. Following that example, David and the people transported the ark from its keeping place to Jerusalem. New Living Translation Like Zachary, Obededom was a priest. (The history of ephods in 1 Samuel also suggests that the ephod worn by the priests of Nob is the one that David wears when the ark is brought into Jerusalem.). Central to these priestly garments is a linen ephod (vv. For instance, Samuel (1 Sam. In Leviticus, a book given for the instruction of priests, the high priest is told to sprinkle altar on the mercy seat, which is on the ark of the covenant, once a year, on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16). Most people assume that four men carried the ark. Kohathites customarily carried the Ark (Num. 13 And the seven priests carrying the seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the LORD went on continually, and blew the trumpets; and the armed men went before them, and the rear guard came after the ark of the LORD, while they continued to blow the trumpets." 37 So David left Asaph and his brothers there before the ark of the covenant of the Lord to minister regularly before the ark as each day required, 38 and also Obed-edom and his sixty-eight brothers, while Obed-edom, the son of Jeduthun, and Hosah were to be gatekeepers. It can be easy … Accordingly, 1 Chron. 10:10–11; Mal. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! A Case for Scripture Saturation, Romans 13 in Context: Three Quotes to Better Understand God and Government, What Can We Learn from God’s Quarantine Laws? 4:15; 7:9), but in this unusual case the Levitical priests transported it (as in Joshua 6:6 and 1 Kings 8:3-6). Who is this priest? 15:2 tells us, “Then David said that no one but the Levites may carry the ark of God.” David’s correction comes from the Law and his teaching of the Law is what enables the people of Israel to worship God in truth. For the ark of the covenant of the Lord our God is carried in procession by the priests and levites, the people following the ministers of God, it, ... Levites: Carried the Ark of the Covenant. Yet, later the text just talks about the priests who bore the ark: "Then the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan; and all Israel crossed over on dry ground, until all the people had crossed completely over the Jordan" (Joshua 3:17). (and the priests, who carried the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord, stood firmly on the dry earth in the midst of the Jordan River, until all the people had crossed over through the dry trough.) It was carried in this way for the 40 years during which the Israelites wandered in the desert, as well as for some time after that. Accordingly, when David wears an ephod, his priestly status is suggested, if not declared. The ark, which represents G‑d’s love for his people, was built by the chief architect of the Tabernacle, Betzalel. vi. During the ceremonies preceding the capture of Jericho, the Ark was carried round the city in the daily procession, preceded by the armed men and by seven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams' horns ( ib. Remember, David has brought to Jerusalem, leaving the priests in Gibeon. David’s city becomes the home of the ark. vii. His priesthood, however, may be veiled to many readers because of the fact that David is not called a priest and because passages like Exodus 28 and Deuteronomy 33:8–11 restrict priesthood to the sons of Aaron. 6 Then the priests carried the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant into the inner sanctuary of the Temple—the Most Holy Place—and placed it beneath the wings of the cherubim. Crossing the Jordan … 2 After three days the officers went through the camp 3 and commanded the people: “When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God being carried by the Levitical priests, you are to set out from your positions and follow it. And you shall make poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold. The top of the outer box was lined with a … Ark of the Covenant translation in English-Rarotongan dictionary. Yet, as the book unfolds, there is another “priest” who takes center stage. The Ark traveled around the lands for many years before it disappeared, purportedly into the hands of Babylon. Rather, David puts the ark in his city under a tent, thus associating priesthood with Jerusalem (cf. That could be, but I found verses like: "Therefore Zadok and Abiathar carried the ark of God back to Jerusalem. Moreover, because blessing came from the altar, it was the priest’s place to mediate the blessing. Within this ark were to be placed the tables of the law which God was about to give to Moses. The Ark was carried by specially trained priests 2000 cubits in advance of the Israelites and according to one midrash, would clear the path for the nation by burning snakes, scorpions, and thorns with two jets of flame that shot from its underside. [1] Deborah W. Rooke, “Kingship as Priesthood: The Relationship between the High Priesthood and the Monarchy,” in King and Messiah in Israel and the Ancient Near East, ed. The events of that day would cause a terrible shock to everyone who heard about them (3:11). You can also see this in "So all the elders of Israel came, and the priests took up the ark. We aren't told how long the poles were or the details of how the ark was carried. You shall put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark, that the ark may be carried by them. In all, the ark comprised three layers: gold, wood, gold. The ark of the covenant itself was not necessarily holy; God’s presence made it so. In 1 Chronicles 15–16, when he brings the Ark to Jerusalem, he acts like a priest in at least five ways. Yet, in learning from the Law, he becomes a teacher of the Law—a priestly duty (see Lev. During the Exodus, only the priests could carry the Ark. Certainly, there is the promise of a new priest(hood) to replace the old priesthood in 1 Sam. 2:18), Ahijah (14:3), and the priests of Nob (22:18) all wore ephods. Here six Levites are named. Verse 25. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Verse 25 says, “Therefore your servant has found courage to pray before you.”. So David and the elders of Israel and the commanders of thousands went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord from the house of Obed-edom with rejoicing. Some of these things will become clear below; others we will have to explore later. - The Levites, which bare the ark; i. e. the priests whose business it was to guard and to carry the ark of the covenant; "the priests the sons of Levi," as in ver. But now, based upon God’s divine word to David, he recognizes the gracious invitation to approach the throne of grace and offer prayer. "You shall cast four rings of gold for it, and put them in its four corners; two rings shall be on one side, and two rings on the other side. And it came to pass, when God helped the Levites who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord, that they offered seven bullocks and seven rams. "So it was, after three days, that the officers went through the camp; and they commanded the people, saying, "When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests, the Levites, bearing it, then you shall set out from your place and go after it" (Joshua 3:2-3). When the ark was moved, it was covered with at least 3 layers of cloth by the priests to protect others from seeing it (Num 4:5-6, 15, 18-20); the priests/Levites carried it and everyone else had to stay about a thousand yards away .