Definition: And said unto the Levites that taught all Israel, which were holy unto the LORD, Put the holy ark in the house which Solomon the son of David king of Israel did build; [it shall] not [be] a burden upon [your] shoulders: serve now the LORD your God, and his people Israel,

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from 2 Chronicles 35:3. It's a really important passage about leadership and responsibility. Here's what it means in simpler terms: The Basic Idea: This verse is telling the Levites – those who were responsible for teaching the people of Israel – that they have a special, crucial job: to care for the Ark of the Covenant. It’s essentially saying, "You are entrusted with a very important responsibility." Let's unpack it piece by piece: “And said unto the Levites…” : This means the verse is coming from someone who was speaking to the leaders and helpers of the priests and teachers. “…that taught all Israel…” : This refers to the group of people who were learning about God’s laws, stories, and traditions – the Jewish community as a whole. They were teaching everyone in Israel. “…which were holy unto the LORD…” : This is really important. The Levites were dedicated to studying and preserving the word of God. They understood that these people were set apart by God, and their lives were focused on honoring him. “…Put the holy ark in the house which Solomon the son of David king of Israel did build…” : This is the core of the verse. The holy ark was a portable symbol of God’s presence – it held the tablets of the Ten Commandments and other important scriptures. It was built by King David, and later perfected under King Solomon. It was placed in a special house – the temple – which he built for the people. “[it shall] not [be] a burden upon [your] shoulders:” : This is a plea to the Levites – they don't need to carry this responsibility alone. It’s saying, “This isn’t something you have to do all by yourself. You are trusted to handle it.” “serve now the LORD your God, and his people Israel…” : Finally, the verse encourages them to focus their efforts on serving God and obeying his laws. They should dedicate themselves to leading and caring for the people of Israel. In a nutshell: The verse is saying that the Levites have a vital role in safeguarding and representing God’s presence within Israel. It's asking them to take this responsibility seriously and focus their energy on serving Him and guiding his people. Why is this important? This passage highlights the importance of religious leadership, especially for those who were dedicated to preserving sacred texts and traditions. It emphasizes that faith and service are intertwined – you can’t truly serve God without dedicating yourself to others. --- Do you want me to: Explain a specific part in more detail? Connect this verse to other parts of the Bible? Discuss its historical context (when was it written)?