Deuteronomy 31:25

Modern

…he gave this command to the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD:

Traditional

That Moses commanded the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord, saying,

Literal

…that Moses commanded the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of YHWH, saying,

Latin

…præcepit Levitis, qui portabant arcam fœderis Domini, dicens:

Hebrew

English

…he gave this command to the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD:

For a covenant document to remain binding and important, it had to be kept in a place where both sides could easily find it.

The book of Deuteronomy needed to be preserved for future generations. In this way, Israel would continue to remember to submit to the Lord’s rule.

Theme notes and profiles

Deuteronomy 31:9
So Moses wrote down this law and gave it to the priests, the sons of Levi, who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and to all the elders of Israel.

Levi: Son of Jacob; progenitor of the Levites Moses: Prophet who led Israel out of Egypt