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1 Chronicles 15:2
English Standard Version
1 Chronicles 15:2
English Standard Version
2 Then David said that no one but the Levites may carry (A)the ark of God, for the Lord had chosen them to carry the ark of the Lord and to minister to him forever.
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1 Chronicles 15:2
New International Version
1 Chronicles 15:2
New International Version
2 Then David said, “No one but the Levites(A) may carry(B) the ark of God, because the Lord chose them to carry the ark of the Lord and to minister(C) before him forever.”
Deuteronomy 10:8
English Standard Version
Deuteronomy 10:8
English Standard Version
8 At that time (A)the Lord set apart the tribe of Levi (B)to carry the ark of the covenant of the Lord (C)to stand before the Lord to minister to him and (D)to bless in his name, to this day.
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Deuteronomy 31:9
English Standard Version
Deuteronomy 31:9
English Standard Version
The Reading of the Law
9 Then Moses (A)wrote this law and gave it to the priests, the sons of Levi, (B)who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and to all the elders of Israel.
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Deuteronomy 31:9
New International Version
Deuteronomy 31:9
New International Version
Public Reading of the Law
9 So Moses wrote(A) down this law and gave it to the Levitical priests, who carried(B) the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and to all the elders of Israel.
Jeremiah 33:17-22
English Standard Version
Jeremiah 33:17-22
English Standard Version
17 “For thus says the Lord: (A)David shall never lack a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel, 18 (B)and the Levitical priests shall never lack a man in my presence to offer burnt offerings, to burn grain offerings, and to make sacrifices forever.”
19 The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: 20 (C)“Thus says the Lord: (D)If you can break my covenant with the day and my covenant with the night, (E)so that day and night will not come at their appointed time, 21 (F)then also my covenant with David my servant may be broken, so that he shall not have a son to reign on his throne, and my covenant with the Levitical priests my ministers. 22 As (G)the host of heaven cannot be numbered and (H)the sands of the sea cannot be measured, so I will multiply the offspring of David my servant, and the Levitical priests who minister to me.”
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Jeremiah 33:17-22
New International Version
Jeremiah 33:17-22
New International Version
17 For this is what the Lord says: ‘David will never fail(A) to have a man to sit on the throne of Israel, 18 nor will the Levitical(B) priests(C) ever fail to have a man to stand before me continually to offer burnt offerings, to burn grain offerings and to present sacrifices.(D)’”
19 The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: 20 “This is what the Lord says: ‘If you can break my covenant with the day(E) and my covenant with the night, so that day and night no longer come at their appointed time,(F) 21 then my covenant(G) with David my servant—and my covenant with the Levites(H) who are priests ministering before me—can be broken and David will no longer have a descendant to reign on his throne.(I) 22 I will make the descendants of David my servant and the Levites who minister before me as countless(J) as the stars in the sky and as measureless as the sand on the seashore.’”
Joshua 3:3
English Standard Version
Joshua 3:3
English Standard Version
3 and commanded the people, “As soon as you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God being carried by (A)the Levitical priests, then you shall set out from your place and follow it.
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Joshua 3:3
New International Version
Joshua 3:3
New International Version
3 giving orders to the people: “When you see the ark of the covenant(A) of the Lord your God, and the Levitical(B) priests(C) carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it.
Numbers 18:1-8
English Standard Version
Numbers 18:1-8
English Standard Version
Duties of Priests and Levites
18 So the Lord said to Aaron, “You and your sons and your father's house with you shall (A)bear iniquity connected with the sanctuary, (B)and you and your sons with you shall bear iniquity connected with your priesthood. 2 And with you bring your brothers also, the tribe of Levi, the tribe of your father, that they may (C)join you and (D)minister to you while you and your sons with you are before the tent of the testimony. 3 They shall keep guard over you and (E)over the whole tent, (F)but shall not come near to the vessels of the sanctuary or to the altar (G)lest they, and you, die. 4 They shall join you and keep guard over the tent of meeting for all the service of the tent, (H)and no outsider shall come near you. 5 And you shall (I)keep guard over the sanctuary and over the altar, (J)that there may never again be wrath on the people of Israel. 6 (K)And behold, I have taken your brothers the Levites from among the people of Israel. (L)They are a gift to you, given to the Lord, to do the service of the tent of meeting. 7 And (M)you and your sons with you shall guard your priesthood for all that concerns the altar and (N)that is within the veil; and you shall serve. I give your priesthood as a gift,[a] and (O)any outsider who comes near shall be put to death.”
8 Then the Lord spoke to Aaron, “Behold, (P)I have given you charge of the contributions made to me, all the consecrated things of the people of Israel. I have given them to you (Q)as a portion and to your sons as a perpetual due.
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- Numbers 18:7 Hebrew service of gift
Numbers 18:1-8
New International Version
Numbers 18:1-8
New International Version
Duties of Priests and Levites
18 The Lord said to Aaron, “You, your sons and your family are to bear the responsibility for offenses connected with the sanctuary,(A) and you and your sons alone are to bear the responsibility for offenses connected with the priesthood. 2 Bring your fellow Levites from your ancestral tribe to join you and assist you when you and your sons minister(B) before the tent of the covenant law. 3 They are to be responsible to you(C) and are to perform all the duties of the tent,(D) but they must not go near the furnishings of the sanctuary or the altar. Otherwise both they and you will die.(E) 4 They are to join you and be responsible for the care of the tent of meeting—all the work at the tent—and no one else may come near where you are.(F)
5 “You are to be responsible for the care of the sanctuary and the altar,(G) so that my wrath will not fall on the Israelites again. 6 I myself have selected your fellow Levites from among the Israelites as a gift to you,(H) dedicated to the Lord to do the work at the tent of meeting.(I) 7 But only you and your sons may serve as priests in connection with everything at the altar and inside the curtain.(J) I am giving you the service of the priesthood as a gift.(K) Anyone else who comes near the sanctuary is to be put to death.(L)”
Offerings for Priests and Levites
8 Then the Lord said to Aaron, “I myself have put you in charge of the offerings presented to me; all the holy offerings the Israelites give me I give to you and your sons as your portion,(M) your perpetual share.(N)
Joshua 6:6
English Standard Version
Joshua 6:6
English Standard Version
6 So Joshua the son of Nun called the priests and said to them, “Take up the ark of the covenant and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the Lord.”
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Joshua 6:6
New International Version
Joshua 6:6
New International Version
6 So Joshua son of Nun called the priests and said to them, “Take up the ark of the covenant of the Lord and have seven priests carry trumpets in front of it.”(A)
Numbers 8:24-26
English Standard Version
Numbers 8:24-26
English Standard Version
24 “This applies to the Levites: (A)from twenty-five years old and upward they[a] shall come to do duty in the service of the tent of meeting. 25 And from the age of fifty years they shall withdraw from the duty of the service and serve no more. 26 They minister[b] to their brothers in the tent of meeting (B)by keeping guard, but they shall do no service. Thus shall you do to the Levites in assigning their duties.”
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- Numbers 8:24 Hebrew he; also verses 25, 26
- Numbers 8:26 Hebrew He ministers
Numbers 8:24-26
New International Version
Numbers 8:24-26
New International Version
24 “This applies to the Levites: Men twenty-five years old or more(A) shall come to take part in the work at the tent of meeting,(B) 25 but at the age of fifty,(C) they must retire from their regular service and work no longer. 26 They may assist their brothers in performing their duties at the tent of meeting, but they themselves must not do the work.(D) This, then, is how you are to assign the responsibilities of the Levites.”
Numbers 8:13-14
English Standard Version
Numbers 8:13-14
English Standard Version
13 And you shall set the Levites before Aaron and his sons, and shall offer them as (A)a wave offering to the Lord.
14 “Thus you shall separate the Levites from among the people of Israel, and (B)the Levites shall be mine.
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Numbers 8:13-14
New International Version
Numbers 8:13-14
New International Version
13 Have the Levites stand in front of Aaron and his sons and then present them as a wave offering(A) to the Lord. 14 In this way you are to set the Levites apart from the other Israelites, and the Levites will be mine.(B)
Numbers 4:19-20
English Standard Version
Numbers 4:19-20
English Standard Version
19 but deal thus with them, that they may live and not die when they come near to (A)the most holy things: Aaron and his sons shall go in and appoint them each to his task and to his burden, 20 (B)but they shall not go in to look on the holy things even for a moment, lest they die.”
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Numbers 4:19-20
New International Version
Numbers 4:19-20
New International Version
19 So that they may live and not die when they come near the most holy things,(A) do this for them: Aaron and his sons(B) are to go into the sanctuary and assign to each man his work and what he is to carry.(C) 20 But the Kohathites must not go in to look(D) at the holy things, even for a moment, or they will die.”
Numbers 4:2-15
English Standard Version
Numbers 4:2-15
English Standard Version
2 “Take a census of the sons of Kohath from among the sons of Levi, by their clans and their fathers' houses, 3 (A)from thirty years old up to fifty years old, all who can come on duty, to do the work in the tent of meeting. 4 This is the service of the sons of Kohath in the tent of meeting: (B)the most holy things. 5 When the camp is to set out, Aaron and his sons shall go in and take down (C)the veil of the screen and cover (D)the ark of the testimony with it. 6 Then they shall put on it a covering of goatskin[a] and spread on top of that a cloth all of blue, and shall put in its (E)poles. 7 And over the (F)table of the bread of the Presence they shall spread a cloth of blue and put on it the plates, the dishes for incense, the bowls, and the flagons for the drink offering; (G)the regular showbread also shall be on it. 8 Then they shall spread over them a cloth of scarlet and cover the same with a covering of goatskin, and shall (H)put in its poles. 9 And they shall take a cloth of blue and cover (I)the lampstand for the light, with its lamps, its tongs, its trays, and all the vessels for oil with which it is supplied. 10 And they shall put it with all its utensils in a covering of goatskin and put it on the carrying frame. 11 And over (J)the golden altar they shall spread a cloth of blue and cover it with a covering of goatskin, and shall put in its poles. 12 And they shall take all (K)the vessels of the service that are used in the sanctuary and put them in a cloth of blue and cover them with a covering of goatskin and put them on the carrying frame. 13 And they shall take away the ashes from the altar and spread a purple cloth over it. 14 And they shall put on it all the utensils of the altar, which are used for the service there, the fire pans, the forks, the shovels, and the basins, all the utensils of the altar; and they shall spread on it a covering of goatskin, and shall put in its poles. 15 And when Aaron and his sons have finished covering the sanctuary and all the furnishings of the sanctuary, as the camp sets out, after that (L)the sons of Kohath shall come to carry these, (M)but they must not touch the holy things, lest they die. These are the things of the tent of meeting that the sons of Kohath are to carry.
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- Numbers 4:6 The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain; compare Exodus 25:5
Numbers 4:2-15
New International Version
Numbers 4:2-15
New International Version
2 “Take a census(A) of the Kohathite branch of the Levites by their clans and families. 3 Count(B) all the men from thirty to fifty years of age(C) who come to serve in the work at the tent of meeting.
4 “This is the work(D) of the Kohathites(E) at the tent of meeting: the care of the most holy things.(F) 5 When the camp is to move,(G) Aaron and his sons are to go in and take down the shielding curtain(H) and put it over the ark of the covenant law.(I) 6 Then they are to cover the curtain with a durable leather,[a](J) spread a cloth of solid blue over that and put the poles(K) in place.
7 “Over the table of the Presence(L) they are to spread a blue cloth and put on it the plates, dishes and bowls, and the jars for drink offerings;(M) the bread that is continually there(N) is to remain on it. 8 They are to spread a scarlet cloth over them, cover that with the durable leather and put the poles(O) in place.
9 “They are to take a blue cloth and cover the lampstand that is for light, together with its lamps, its wick trimmers and trays,(P) and all its jars for the olive oil used to supply it. 10 Then they are to wrap it and all its accessories in a covering of the durable leather and put it on a carrying frame.(Q)
11 “Over the gold altar(R) they are to spread a blue cloth and cover that with the durable leather and put the poles(S) in place.
12 “They are to take all the articles(T) used for ministering in the sanctuary, wrap them in a blue cloth, cover that with the durable leather and put them on a carrying frame.(U)
13 “They are to remove the ashes(V) from the bronze altar(W) and spread a purple cloth over it. 14 Then they are to place on it all the utensils(X) used for ministering at the altar, including the firepans,(Y) meat forks,(Z) shovels(AA) and sprinkling bowls.(AB) Over it they are to spread a covering of the durable leather and put the poles(AC) in place.
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,(AD) only then are the Kohathites(AE) to come and do the carrying.(AF) But they must not touch the holy things(AG) or they will die.(AH) The Kohathites are to carry those things that are in the tent of meeting.
Footnotes
- Numbers 4:6 Possibly the hides of large aquatic mammals; also in verses 8, 10, 11, 12, 14 and 25
Isaiah 66:21
English Standard Version
Isaiah 66:21
English Standard Version
21 (A)And some of them also I will take for priests and for Levites, says the Lord.
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Isaiah 66:21
New International Version
Isaiah 66:21
New International Version
21 And I will select some of them also to be priests(A) and Levites,” says the Lord.
2 Chronicles 35:3
English Standard Version
2 Chronicles 35:3
English Standard Version
3 And he said to the Levites (A)who taught all Israel and who were holy to the Lord, “Put the holy ark in the house that Solomon the son of David, king of Israel, built. You need not carry it on your shoulders. Now serve the Lord your God and his people Israel.
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2 Chronicles 35:3
New International Version
2 Chronicles 35:3
New International Version
3 He said to the Levites, who instructed(A) all Israel and who had been consecrated to the Lord: “Put the sacred ark in the temple that Solomon son of David king of Israel built. It is not to be carried about on your shoulders. Now serve the Lord your God and his people Israel.
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.