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1 Kings 8:3

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does 1 Kings 8:3 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And all the elders of Israel came, and the priests took up the ark.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And all the elders of Israel came, and the priests took up the ark.
1 Kings 8:3 — American Standard Version

Context — 1 Kings 8

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
1Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the princes of the fathers` [houses] of the children of Israel, unto king Solomon in Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of Jehovah out of the city of David, which is Zion.
2And all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto king Solomon at the feast, in the month Ethanim, which is the seventh month.
3And all the elders of Israel came, and the priests took up the ark.
4And they brought up the ark of Jehovah, and the tent of meeting, and all the holy vessels that were in the Tent; even these did the priests and the Levites bring up.
5And king Solomon and all the congregation of Israel, that were assembled unto him, were with him before the ark, sacrificing sheep and oxen, that could not be counted nor numbered for multitude.
6And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of Jehovah unto its place, into the oracle of the house, to the most holy place, even under the wings of the cherubim.
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And all the elders of Israel came, etc.] To Zion, the city of David: and the priests took up the ark; from thence; in (<140504>2 Chronicles 5:4) it is said the Levites did it, whose business it was, (<053125>Deuteronomy 31:25), and so the priests might be called; for every priest was a Levite, though every Levite was not a priest, and the priests did at all times bear the ark; (see <060315>Joshua 3:15 6:4 <101529>2 Samuel 15:29).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“In 2 Chronicles 5:4, ““the Levites” took up the ark;” and by the Law the ark was the special charge of the Kohathites Numbers 3:31; Numbers 4:15. But all priests were Levites Joshua 3:3, though all Levites were not priests. And as Joshua had done Joshua 3:6; Joshua 6:6, so Solomon called upon the priests to bear the holy structure, allowing to mere Levites only the inferior honor of helping to transport the tabernacle and the vessels of the sanctuary. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“The priests - For although the Levites might do this, Num 4:15, yet the priests did it at this time, for the greater honour of the solemnity; and because the Levites might not enter into the holy - place, much less into the holy of holies, where it was to be placed, into which the priests themselves might not have entered, if the high - priest alone could have done it. 3 Kings (1 Kings) 8:4”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“8:3-4 The priests and Levites brought up the Ark of the Lord as prescribed in the law (Exod 25:14-15; Num 4:5-8; cp. 2 Sam 6:1-15).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“the priests took up: Num 4:15; Deu 31:9; Jos 3:6, Jos 3:14, Jos 3:15, Jos 4:9, Jos 6:6; Ch1 15:2, Ch1 15:11-15; Ch2 5:5-8 3 Kings (1 Kings) 8:4”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification