Bible Strands
1 Chronicles 15:12
And he said to them, “You are the heads of the Levitical families. You and your relatives must consecrate yourselves so that you may bring the ark of the LORD, the God of Israel, to the place I have prepared for it.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — David addresses the Levitical family heads and their relatives at the moment of preparing to relocate the ark after a previous failed attempt. He instructs them to undergo ritual preparation before the transfer.
The words — The imperative הִתְקַדְּשׁוּ (hit.ka.de.Shu) commands the Levites to "consecrate yourselves," directly preceding the physical task of moving the ark. This verb establishes ritual purity as the necessary prerequisite for handling sacred objects.
The thread — This consecration requirement echoes earlier commands in Exodus 19:14 and later Passover preparations in 2 Chronicles 35:6. The narrative immediately confirms the Levites' compliance in 1 Chronicles 15:14.
Why it lands — The text demands recognition that physical relocation of the ark requires prior spiritual preparation, as neglecting this order previously provoked divine anger. Readers must apply the principle that proper reverence precedes proper service.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And said unto them, Ye are the chief of the fathers of the Levites: sanctify yourselves, both ye and your brethren, that ye may bring up the ark of the Lord God of Israel unto the place that I have prepared for it.
Cross-references
- 2 Chronicles 35:6 Slaughter the Passover lambs, consecrate yourselves, and make preparations for your fellow countrymen to carry out the word of the LORD given by Moses.”
- Exodus 19:14 When Moses came down from the mountain to the people, he consecrated them, and they washed their clothes.
- 1 Chronicles 15:14 So the priests and Levites consecrated themselves to bring up the ark of the LORD, the God of Israel.
- Romans 12:1 Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
- 2 Chronicles 30:15 And on the fourteenth day of the second month they slaughtered the Passover lamb. The priests and Levites were ashamed, and they consecrated themselves and brought burnt offerings to the house of the LORD.
- 1 Chronicles 9:34 All these were heads of Levite families, chiefs according to their genealogies, and they lived in Jerusalem.
- 1 Chronicles 15:1 David 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.
- 1 Chronicles 15:3 And David assembled all Israel in Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the LORD to the place he had prepared for it.
- 1 Chronicles 24:31 As their brothers the descendants of Aaron did, they also cast lots in the presence of King David and of Zadok, Ahimelech, and the heads of the families of the priests and Levites—the family heads and their younger brothers alike.
- 2 Chronicles 5:11 Now all the priests who were present had consecrated themselves regardless of their divisions. And when the priests came out of the Holy Place,