Deuteronomy 31:25

25 then Moses commanded the Levites carrying the ark of the covenant of Yahweh, {saying},

Deuteronomy 31:25 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 31:25

That Moses commanded the Levites
These were not the common Levites, but the priests who were also Levites, to whom the law was given, ( Deuteronomy 31:9 ) ; and none but they might touch the ark, or go so near it as, they are bid to do, to put the law on the side of it; so Aben Ezra; it follows,

which bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord;
as the priests are said to do, (See Gill on Deuteronomy 31:9); for though in journeying the Kohathites carried it, yet not until it was covered by the priests, for they must not touch it; as these must do when they put the law on the side of it, as they are ordered in ( Deuteronomy 31:26 ) .

saying;
as follows.

Deuteronomy 31:25 In-Context

23 Then he told Joshua the son of Nun, and said [to him], "Be strong and be courageous, for you shall bring the {Israelites} into the land that I swore to them, and I will be with you."

24 {And then when Moses finished writing} the words of this law on the scroll {until they were complete},

25 then Moses commanded the Levites carrying the ark of the covenant of Yahweh, {saying},

26 "Take the scroll of this law and put it at the side of the ark of the covenant of Yahweh your God, and it will be there as a witness against you.

27 For I know your rebellion and your stiff neck [even now] while I [am] still alive with you {today}, rebelling against Yahweh, and {how much more} after my death.

Footnotes

• [a] Literally "to say"