Deuteronomy 31:25

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.