John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 3. And said unto the Levites that taught all Israel , etc.] 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”, etc. 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.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-19 - The destruction Josiah made of idolatry, was more largely related in the book of Kings. His solemnizing the passover is related here. The Lord's supper resembles the passover more than any other of the Jewis festivals; and the due observance of that ordinance, is a proof of growing piety and devotion. God alone can truly make our hearts holy and prepare them for his holy services; but there are duties belongin to us, in doing which we obtain this blessing from the Lord.
Original Hebrew ויאמר559 ללוים3881 המבונים995 לכל3605 ישׂראל3478 הקדושׁים6918 ליהוה3068 תנו5414 את853 ארון727 הקדשׁ6944 בבית1004 אשׁר834 בנה1129 שׁלמה8010 בן1121 דויד1732 מלך4428 ישׂראל3478 אין369 לכם משׂא4853 בכתף3802 עתה6258 עבדו5647 את853 יהוה3068 אלהיכם430 ואת853 עמו5971 ישׂראל׃3478
