And Joshua spake unto the priests, saying, Take up the ark of the covenant, and pass over before the people. And they took up the ark of the covenant, and went before the people.

And all the elders of Israel came, and the priests took up the ark.

And Joshua the son of Nun called the priests, and said unto them, Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the LORD.

Then David said, None ought to carry the ark of God but the Levites: for them hath the LORD chosen to carry the ark of God, and to minister unto him for ever. {None...: Heb. It is not to carry the ark of God, but for the Levites}

And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the LORD unto his place, to the oracle of the house, into the most holy {place, even} under the wings of the cherubims:

And said unto them, Ye {are} the chief of the fathers of the Levites: sanctify yourselves, {both} ye and your brethren, that ye may bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel unto {the place that} I have prepared for it.

And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the vessels of the sanctuary, as the camp is to set forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear {it}: but they shall not touch {any} holy thing, lest they die. These {things are} the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation.

At that time the LORD separated the tribe of Levi, to bear the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to stand before the LORD to minister unto him, and to bless in his name, unto this day.