And the children of the Levites bare the ark of God. — The priests and Levites, having purified themselves (1 Chronicles 15:14), duly and rightly discharged their sacred office of bearing the Ark. This statement anticipates 1 Chronicles 15:25, sqq. Such brief anticipative summaries of a series of events afterwards described in detail are very common in Hebrew narrative.
Upon their shoulders with the staves there-on. — Literally, with their shoulder, with the poles upon themselves.
As Moses commanded according to the word of the Lord. — Numbers 7:9; Numbers 4:15; Exodus 25:13-15.