Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Chronicles 35:3
And said unto the Levites that taught all Israel, which were holy unto the LORD, Put the holy ark in the house which Solomon the son of David king of Israel did build; [it shall] not [be] a burden upon [your] shoulders: serve now the LORD your God, and his people Israel,
3. that taught all Israel ] Cp. Neh 8:7; Neh 8:9; also (perhaps) 2Ch 30:22, A.V.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Put the holy ark etc – The ark of the covenant may have been temporarily removed from the holy of holies while Josiah effected necessary repairs.
It shall not be a burden upon your shoulders – The removing and replacing the ark Josiah means shall not henceforth be your duty. The ark shall remain undisturbed in the holy of holies. You shall return to your old employments, to the service of God and the instruction of the people.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 3. Put the holy ark in the house] It is likely that the priests had secured this when they found that the idolatrous kings were determined to destroy every thing that might lead the people to the worship of the true God. And now, as all appears to be well established, the ark is ordered to be put into its own place.
For an ample account of this passover and the reformation that was then made, see on 2Kg 23:1, &c., and the places marked in the margin.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Which were holy; or, and which were holy.
In the house; in the temple; or in the holy of holies; whence, it may seem, it had been removed, either,
1. By some of the wicked and idolatrous kings of Judah, possibly by Josiahs father Amon; which peradventure may be implied by that expression, 2Ch 33:23, Amon trespassed more and more, i.e. more than he or his father Manasseh had done, which seems to point at some very enormous crime committed by him. Or,
2. By Josiahs order, that the temple might be thoroughly repaired, both in the holy place, and in the most holy place, which some of the idolatrous kings of Judah, it may be, had defaced or defiled; and therefore it was to be searched in order to its reparation; and to that end it might seem fit to remove the ark: and upon this occasion Hilkiah might find the original book of the law, which was written by the hands of Moses, and by Gods command was laid beside the ark, and upon the removal of the ark was easily discovered.
It shall not be a burden upon your shoulders; or, that it might not be a burden, &c. So these words are to be joined with the former, as the reason why Solomon built this house, that the ark might have a constant and fixed habitation, and not need to be carried from place to place upon their shoulders, as it had been done whilst it was in the tabernacle. And withal, this is mentioned as an argument to quicken them to the more diligent service of God in their present work, because they were freed from that troublesome part of their office which lay upon their forefathers.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And said unto the Levites that taught all Israel,…. Whose business it was to go through the several tribes, and instruct them in the knowledge of God, his word and worship, statutes and ordinances. In an ancient MS. mentioned by Junius, it is read, “who prepared for all Israel the holy things”, c.
which were holy unto the Lord who were consecrated to the name of the Lord, as the Targum, dedicated to his worship and service; or it may signify the holy things they taught or prepared:
these put the holy ark in the house which Solomon the son of David king of Israel did build; which some think was removed from thence by Amon, and an idol put in its room, which is the greater trespass he is said to be guilty of, 2Ch 33:23 others, that it was privately removed by the high priest in idolatrous times, and laid up in some secret place for the preservation of it; but rather the truth is, that it had been removed by the order of Josiah, for the sake of the repairs of the most holy place; and this being done, he orders it to be replaced; and though the Levites might not go into the holy of holies, yet they could carry it to the entrance of the holy place, and the priests from thence to the door of the most holy place, where the high priest could receive it, and fix it in its proper place:
it shall not be a burden upon your shoulders; it was not now to be carried from place to place, having a fixed abode in the most holy place, and therefore they were at leisure to attend other service:
serve now the Lord your God, and his people Israel; by singing the praises of God, and slaying the passover lambs for the people.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(3) The Levites that taught all Israel.In the law (Neh. 8:7; comp. also 2Ch. 17:8-9).
Which were holy unto the Lord.Separated to His service (Exo. 28:36, Holiness to the Lord, the inscription on Aarons mitre),
Put the holy ark in the house.This command implies that the ark had been removed from its place in the inner sanctuary. The removal probably took place under Manasseh or his son, with the object of saving the sacred symbol from profanation. Or perhaps the repair of the Temple under Josiah had necessitated such a step. A third explanation takes the words in the sense of Let the ark be, where it stands, in its proper place. Do not give a thought to your ancient function of bearing it about; but set your minds upon present duties. This, however, is too artificial.
It shall not be a burden.Literally, hearing on the shoulder is not for you. (Comp. the like statement in 1Ch. 23:26; see also Num. 4:15; Num. 7:9; 1Ch. 15:2.)
Serve now the Lord . . . and his people.In the manner indicated in 2Ch. 35:4-6.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
(3-6) The kings charge to the Levites.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
3. The Levites that taught all Israel Certain Levites were especially intrusted with the work of teaching the people the law of God. 2Ch 17:9.
Which were holy unto the Lord None but holy and consecrated ones could properly approach to or bear the ark.
Put the holy ark in the house When and how the ark had been removed from its proper place in the temple is not recorded. Keil’s explanation, that the words do not mean a material moving of the ark, but are to be understood in the sense of “Overlook, leave it in the temple, for you are no longer to carry it on your shoulders,” is far from satisfactory, and amounts to no more than “Leave it in the place where it has hitherto stood;” a sense which he himself admits the words cannot bear. Equally untenable is the rabbinical opinion, that the words are a command to remove the ark to some subterranean chamber of the temple, where it might be safe in case the temple were destroyed. The words clearly imply that the ark had, for some reason, been removed from its proper place in the oracle, or holy of holies, which Solomon the son of David king of Israel did build; and most interpreters suppose that this had taken place during the godless reign of Amon, or, perhaps, of Manasseh, when it was removed either by them to make room for idolatrous statues, or by some pious priests and Levites in order to protect it from profanation and destruction. The latter supposition is the more probable, for as the book of the law, whose proper place was in the ark, had been removed and hidden in a secret place of the temple, so the ark itself may also have been concealed.
It shall not be a burden upon your shoulders The Levites, perhaps, had the impression that it would be appropriate, and in keeping with most ancient usage, to bear the ark about the temple and its courts at the passover; but Josiah reminded them that since Solomon had built a settled place for the ark to abide in, it was no longer to be borne about.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
2Ch 35:3. The Levites that taught all Israel The Levites who taught all Israel how they should sanctify themselves before the Lord. Houbigant.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
2Ch 35:3 And said unto the Levites that taught all Israel, which were holy unto the LORD, Put the holy ark in the house which Solomon the son of David king of Israel did build; [it shall] not [be] a burden upon [your] shoulders: serve now the LORD your God, and his people Israel,
Ver. 3. Put the holy ark in the house. ] Heb., The ark of holiness: therefore that ark or chest is not here meant, wherein were put the collection moneys, as some would have it, but the ark of the covenant: which might be put out of its place in the days of his wicked father Amon, to make way for some idol in its room. He might remember, saith Cajetan, what damage had been done to the Philistines, when the ark stood by Dagon. The Hebrews tell us, that the priests in those idolatrous times had carried the holy ark out of the temple – that it might not stand there among those heathenish idols – and conveyed it to the house of Shallum, who was uncle to the prophet Jeremiah, and husband to the prophetess Huldah, 2Ch 34:22 and that therefore Josiah sent to her to consult with the Lord for him.
It shall not be a burden upon your shoulders,
Serve now the Lord your God, &c.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
that taught all Israel. This was the great and special duty of the priests and Levites. But they neglected it for their ritual, as too many priests have done from that day to this. See notes on Deu 33:10; Deu 17:11, &c.
all Israel. Not Judah only.
holy. See note on Exo 3:5.
Put the holy ark. It had probably been removed during the reparation of the Temple.
the holy ark = the Sanctuary’s Ark. See note on Exo 25:22 and 1Ch 13:3.
God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
the Levites: 2Ch 17:8, 2Ch 17:9, 2Ch 30:22, Deu 33:10, Neh 8:7, Neh 8:8, Mal 2:7
Put: 2Ch 8:11, 2Ch 34:14
in the house: 2Ch 5:7
not be: Num 4:15-49, 1Ch 23:26
serve now: Num 8:19, Num 16:9, Num 16:10, 2Co 4:5
Reciprocal: 2Ki 23:22 – of the kings 1Ch 15:2 – None ought to 1Ch 23:28 – purifying 2Ch 17:7 – to teach 2Ch 30:17 – the Levites Neh 8:9 – the Levites
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2Ch 35:3. That taught all Israel which were holy That is, the Levites were holy unto the Lord. And therefore it may be rendered, and were holy, &c., that is, peculiarly dedicated to this service, of ministering to the priests, and instructing the people. Put the holy ark in the house, &c. It appears from this that the ark had been removed from its place; but by whom or when cannot now be said. It shall not be a burden upon your shoulders That is, hereafter. For they were to carry it to a settled place, there to remain: and then they would be obliged to bear it no further on their shoulders, as they had done before it was fixed in the temple. Serve now the Lord, &c. Ministers must look upon themselves as servants both to Christ, and to the people for his sake. They must take care and take pains, and lay themselves out to the utmost, both for the honour and glory of God, and for the benefit of his people, not as having dominion over their faith, but as helpers of their holiness and joy.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
35:3 And said unto the Levites that {b} taught all Israel, which were holy unto the LORD, Put the holy ark in the house which Solomon the son of David king of Israel did build; [it shall] not [be] a {c} burden upon [your] shoulders: serve now the LORD your God, and his people Israel,
(b) So that the Levites charge was not only to minister in the temple, but also to instruct the people in the word of God.
(c) As it was before the temple was built: therefore your office is to teach the people and to praise God.