Bible Strands
2 Samuel 15:24
Zadok was also there, and all the Levites with him were carrying the ark of the covenant of God. And they set down the ark of God, and Abiathar offered sacrifices until all the people had passed out of the city.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — David has fled Jerusalem amid Absalom's rebellion, and the narrative shifts to the temple officials positioning the ark outside the city. Zadok and the Levites place the ark while Abiathar performs sacrifices to clear the route for the departing crowd.
The words — The text records נֹֽשְׂאִים (no.se'Im), literally "[were] carrying," to describe the Levites' physical handling of the ark. It also uses גַם (gam), meaning "also," to mark Zadok's presence alongside the established priestly line.
The thread — The Levitical transport of sacred objects aligns with Numbers 4:15, while the coexistence of Zadok and Abiathar as priests is documented in 2 Samuel 8:17 and 2 Samuel 20:25.
Why it lands — The verse documents a ritual pause during a political crisis, stating that sacrifices continue while the ark is stationary. It requires the reader to note that religious protocol proceeds regardless of the king's immediate safety or favor.
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 lo Zadok also, and all the Levites were with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God: and they set down the ark of God; and Abiathar went up, until all the people had done passing out of the city.
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.
- 2 Samuel 8:17 Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were priests; Seraiah was the scribe;
- 2 Samuel 20:25 Sheva was the scribe; Zadok and Abiathar were priests;
- 1 Samuel 22:20 But one of the sons of Ahimelech son of Ahitub escaped. His name was Abiathar, and he fled to David.
- Numbers 7:9 But he did not give any to the Kohathites, since they were to carry on their shoulders the holy objects for which they were responsible.
- Joshua 3:3 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.
- Joshua 3:6 And he said to the priests, “Take the ark of the covenant and go on ahead of the people.” So they carried the ark of the covenant and went ahead of them.
- Joshua 3:15 Now the Jordan overflows its banks throughout the harvest season. But as soon as the priests carrying the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge,
- Joshua 4:16 “Command the priests who carry the ark of the Testimony to come up from the Jordan.”
- Joshua 6:4 Have seven priests carry seven rams’ horns in front of the ark. Then on the seventh day, march around the city seven times, while the priests blow the horns.