¹⁵ And the Levites carried the ark of God with the poles on their shoulders, as Moses had commanded^(A) in accordance with the word of the Lord.^(B)

¹⁵ “After Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy furnishings and all the holy articles, and when the camp is ready to move,^(A) only then are the Kohathites^(B) to come and do the carrying.^(C) But they must not touch the holy things^(D) or they will die.^(E) The Kohathites are to carry those things that are in the tent of meeting.

⁹ But Moses did not give any to the Kohathites,^(A) because they were to carry on their shoulders^(B) the holy things, for which they were responsible.

⁹ These poles were so long that their ends, extending from the ark, could be seen from in front of the inner sanctuary, but not from outside the Holy Place; and they are still there today.

⁸ These poles were so long that their ends could be seen from the Holy Place in front of the inner sanctuary, but not from outside the Holy Place; and they are still there today.^(A)

⁵ When the camp is to move,^(A) Aaron and his sons are to go in and take down the shielding curtain^(B) and put it over the ark of the covenant law.^{(C) 6} Then they are to cover the curtain with a durable leather,^[a](D) spread a cloth of solid blue over that and put the poles^(E) in place.

²⁰ He took the tablets of the covenant law^(A) and placed them in the ark,^(B) attached the poles to the ark and put the atonement cover^(C) over it.

³ He cast four gold rings for it and fastened them to its four feet, with two rings on one side and two rings on the other. ⁴ Then he made poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold. ⁵ And he inserted the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry it.

¹² Cast four gold rings for it and fasten them to its four feet, with two rings^(A) on one side and two rings on the other. ¹³ Then make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold.^{(B) 14} Insert the poles^(C) into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry it. ¹⁵ The poles are to remain in the rings of this ark; they are not to be removed.^(D)