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.
Then David said. After the lapse of three months (1 Chronicles 13:14) the purpose of transporting the ark to Jerusalem was resumed. Time and reflection had led to a discovery of the cause of the painful catastrophe that marred the first attempt, and preparing for the solemn procession that was now to usher the sacred symbol into its resting-place, David took special care that the carriage should be regulated in strict conformity to the law (Numbers 4:5; Numbers 4:15; Numbers 7:9; Numbers 10:17). The rule was explicit and absolute that the Kohathite Levites were to bear it upon their shoulders; and yet David had strangely overlooked this when he ordered the ark to be put upon a cart (1 Chronicles 13:7).