Divrey Hayamim Bais 35:3

3 And said unto the Levi’im that taught kol Yisroel, which were hakedoshim unto Hashem, Put the Aron HaKodesh in the Beis which Sh’lomo Ben Dovid Melech Yisroel did build; it shall not be a massa (burden, something carried) upon your ketefayim (shoulders); serve now Hashem Eloheichem and His people Yisroel,

Divrey Hayamim Bais 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.

Divrey Hayamim Bais 35:3 In-Context

1 5 Moreover Yoshiyahu kept Pesach unto Hashem in Yerushalayim, and they slaughtered the Pesach on the fourteenth day of the first month.

2 And he set up the Kohanim in their mishmerot, and encouraged them to the Avodas Beis Hashem,

3 And said unto the Levi’im that taught kol Yisroel, which were hakedoshim unto Hashem, Put the Aron HaKodesh in the Beis which Sh’lomo Ben Dovid Melech Yisroel did build; it shall not be a massa (burden, something carried) upon your ketefayim (shoulders); serve now Hashem Eloheichem and His people Yisroel,

4 And prepare yourselves by Bais Avoteichem, after your machlekot, according to the writing of Dovid Melech Yisroel, and according to the mikhtav of Sh’lomo bno.

5 And stand in HaKodesh according to the pelugot Bais HaAvot (groupings of families) of your achim the Bnei HaAm, and after the chalukat Bais Av (family subdivisions) of the Levi’im.