Chronicles II 35:3

3 And he told the Levites that were able in all Israel, that they should consecrate themselves to the Lord: and they put the holy ark in the house which Solomon the son of David king of Israel built: and the king said, Ye must not carry anything on your shoulders: now then minister to the Lord your God, and to his people Israel.

Chronicles II 35:3 Meaning and Commentary

2 Chronicles 35:3

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"

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, ( 2 Chronicles 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.

Chronicles II 35:3 In-Context

1 And Josias kept a passover to the Lord his God; and sacrificed the passover on the fourteenth day of the first month.

2 And he appointed the priests at their charges, and encouraged them for the services of the house of the Lord.

3 And he told the Levites that were able in all Israel, that they should consecrate themselves to the Lord: and they put the holy ark in the house which Solomon the son of David king of Israel built: and the king said, Ye must not carry anything on your shoulders: now then minister to the Lord your God, and to his people Israel.

4 And prepare yourselves according to the houses of your families, and according to your daily courses, according to the writing of David king of Israel, and by the hand of his son Solomon.

5 And stand ye in the house according to the divisions of the houses of your families for your brethren the sons of the people; also let there be for the Levites a division of the house of their family.