The Hyperlinked Bible
Intertextuality Pair
Allusion
Later text
It was because you Levites were not with us the first time that the LORD our God burst forth in anger against us. For we did not consult Him about the proper order." So the priests and Levites consecrated themselves to bring up the ark of the LORD, the God of Israel. And the Levites carried the ark of God on their shoulders with the poles, as Moses had commanded in accordance with the word of the LORD.
Earlier text
This service of the Kohathites at the Tent of Meeting regards the most holy things. Whenever the camp sets out, Aaron and his sons are to go in, take down the veil of the curtain, and cover the ark of the Testimony with it. They are to place over this a covering of fine leather, spread a solid blue cloth over it, and insert its poles. Over the table of the Presence they are to spread a blue cloth and place the plates and cups on it, along with the bowls and pitchers for the drink offering. The regular bread offering is to remain on it. And they shall spread a scarlet cloth over them, cover them with fine leather, and insert the poles. They are to take a blue cloth and cover the lampstand used for light, together with its lamps, wick trimmers, and trays, as well as the jars of oil with which to supply it. Then they shall wrap it and all its utensils inside a covering of fine leather and put it on the carrying frame. Over the gold altar they are to spread a blue cloth, cover it with fine leather, and insert the poles. They are to take all the utensils for serving in the sanctuary, place them in a blue cloth, cover them with fine leather, and put them on the carrying frame. Then they shall remove the ashes from the bronze altar, spread a purple cloth over it, and place on it all the vessels used to serve there: the firepans, meat forks, shovels, and sprinkling bowls—all the equipment of the altar. They are to spread over it a covering of fine leather and insert the poles. When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy objects and all their equipment, as soon as the camp is ready to move, the Kohathites shall come and do the carrying. But they must not touch the holy objects, or they will die. These are the transportation duties of the Kohathites regarding the Tent of Meeting.
After the disaster with Uzzah, the Chronicler records David's recognition that the ark must be carried by the Levites "on their shoulders" (bakkatheph) using poles, as prescribed in Numbers 4:4-15 for the Kohathites. David explicitly states that the first attempt failed "because you Levites were not with us the first time … For we did not consult Him about the proper order" (kammishpat, 15:13). The verbal and conceptual link to Numbers 4's detailed instructions for transporting holy objects underscores the Chronicler's emphasis that even the king must submit to Mosaic Torah regarding the handling of sacred things. Numbers 4 further warns that the Kohathites, though charged with carrying the ark, must not touch the holy things directly "or they will die" (Num 4:15) — the very prohibition whose breach struck down Uzzah (2 Sam 6:7).