Bible Strands
Deuteronomy 31:9
So Moses wrote down this law and gave it to the priests, the sons of Levi, who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and to all the elders of Israel.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Moses acts after God’s promise to lead Israel, formally transferring the written law to the Levitical priests who carry the ark and to the national elders. This action immediately precedes his command for a seven-year public reading during the Feast of Tabernacles.
The words — מֹשֶׁה֮ (mo.Sheh) = Moses [H4872]; וַ/יִּכְתֹּ֣ב (va/i.yikh.To) = and he wrote down [H3789]. The text states Moses physically inscribed the law and handed it to designated leaders.
The thread — The ark’s transport by Levitical priests appears in Numbers 4:15 and Joshua 3:3, while Moses’ authoritative recording at God’s direction parallels Numbers 33:2.
Why it lands — The verse establishes a concrete, written standard for the community and requires readers to recognize the formal transfer of religious authority to the established leadership. It demands accountability to a documented text rather than oral tradition alone.
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 Moses wrote this law, and delivered it unto the priests the sons of Levi, which bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and unto all the elders of Israel.
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.
- 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.
- Numbers 33:2 At the LORD’s command, Moses recorded the stages of their journey. These are the stages listed by their starting points:
- Deuteronomy 17:18 When he is seated on his royal throne, he must write for himself a copy of this instruction on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests.
- Deuteronomy 31:22 So that very day Moses wrote down this song and taught it to the Israelites.
- Deuteronomy 31:28 Assemble before me all the elders of your tribes and all your officers so that I may speak these words in their hearing and call heaven and earth to witness against them.
- Joshua 3:14 So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carried the ark of the covenant ahead of them.
- Joshua 6:12 Joshua got up early the next morning, and the priests took the ark of the LORD.
- 1 Kings 8:3 When all the elders of Israel had arrived, the priests took up the ark,
- 1 Chronicles 15:2 Then David said, “No one but the Levites may carry the ark of God, because the LORD has chosen them to carry the ark of the LORD and to minister before Him forever.”