Deuteronomy 31:26

“Take this book of the law, etc.] Not Deuteronomy only, but the whole Pentateuch: and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God; not in the ark, for there were nothing there but the two tables of stone with the ten commands on them, (<110809>1 Kings 8:9); but on one side of it; the Targum of Jonathan says, it was “put in a chest (or box) on the right side of the ark of the covenant;” which is very probable. Jarchi observes, that the wise men of Israel are divided about it in the Talmud f566; some of them say there was a table (or ledge) that stood out from the ark without, and there it was put; others say it was put on the side of the tables of the law within the ark;…”

“Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark--The second copy of the law (see on Deu 31:9) was deposited for greater security and reverence in a little chest beside the ark of the covenant, for there was nothing contained within it but the tables of stone (Kg1 8:9). Others think it was put within the ark, it being certain, from the testimony of Paul (Heb 9:4), that there were once other things inside the ark, and that this was the copy found in the time of Josiah (Kg2 22:8). Next: Deuteronomy Chapter 32”

“Moses completes the writing out of the book of the Law, and directs it to be placed by the ark of the covenant. Deuteronomy 31:24 The “book” here spoken of would contain the whole Pentateuch up to this verse, and be “the Book of Moses,” called generally by the Jews “the Law” (compare Matthew 22:40; Galatians 4:21). Deuteronomy 31:25 The Levites, which bare the ark - i. e., as in Deuteronomy 31:9, “the priests the sons of Levi.” The non-priestly Levites could not so much as enter the sanctuary or touch the ark (compare Numbers 4:15). Though in the journeys through the wilderness the ark was borne by the non-priestly Kohathites, yet on occasions of a more solemn and public character it was…”

“Take this book - Probably the very same book, which (after having been some way misplaced) was found in the house of the Lord, in the days of Josiah, and publickly read by the king himself, for a witness against a people, who were then almost ripe for ruin. In the side - In the outside, in a little chest fixed to it, for nothing but the tables of stone were contained in the ark, Kg1 8:9, here it was kept for greater security and reverence. A witness against thee - Against thy people, to whom he turns his speech that they might be the more affected with it. Next: Deuteronomy Chapter 32”

“31:26 beside the Ark: Unlike the stone tablets, the scroll of Deuteronomy was not to be placed in the Ark but near it, in the inner sanctuary of the Tabernacle and, later, of the Temple (see 31:9; Exod 25:16; 26:33). • a witness: Like the song that the Israelites were to sing (see Deut 31:19), the presence of the scroll of Deuteronomy would be a perpetual reminder of Israel’s covenant obligations and privileges (see 31:10, 19).”

“in the side: Kg1 8:9; Kg2 22:8-11; Ch2 34:14, Ch2 34:15 a witness: Deu 31:19; Kg2 22:8, Kg2 22:13-19; Rom 3:19, Rom 3:20; Gal 2:19 Deuteronomy 31:27”