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

He commanded the Levites, who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord. saying:

that Moses commandeth the Levites bearing the ark of the covenant of Jehovah, saying,

Moses said to the Levites who were responsible for taking up the ark of the Lord's agreement,

he instructed the Levites, who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord, saying:

Praecepit Moses Levitis portantibus Arcata foederis Jehovae, dicendo:

The Levites, which bare the ark - i. e., as in Deuteronomy 31:9, "the priests the sons of Levi." The non-priestly Levites could not so much as enter the sanctuary or touch the ark (compare Numbers 4:15). Though in the journeys through the wilderness the ark was borne by the non-priestly Kohathites, yet on occasions of a more solemn and public character it was carried by the priests themselves (Joshua 3:3 ff, Joshua 4:9-10; Joshua 6:6, Joshua 6:12; Joshua 8:33; 1-Kings 8:3).

That Moses commanded the Levites,.... These were not the common Levites, but the priests who were also Levites, to whom the law was given, Deuteronomy 31:9; and none but they might touch the ark, or go so near it as, they are bid to do, to put the law on the side of it; so Aben Ezra; it follows:
which bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord; as the priests are said to do; see Gill on Deuteronomy 31:9; for though in journeying the Kohathites carried it, yet not until it was covered by the priests, for they must not touch it; as these must do when they put the law on the side of it, as they are ordered in Deuteronomy 31:26.
saying; as follows.

The Levites - The priests, Deuteronomy 31:9, who also were Levites.