שמואל א, פרק ז׳, פסוק א׳

A respectful and proper reception for the Ark of God finally brings an end to the chain of disasters that followed its wanderings. When the Ark arrived in Kiriath-jearim, the entire city went out together to honor it [מלבי״ם]. This warm welcome stands in sharp contrast to the behavior of the people of Beth-shemesh, who rejected the Ark and sought to push it away, much like the Philistines. Their rejection brought a severe punishment resulting in the deaths of seventy men, whereas the respectful embrace by the people of Kiriath-jearim ensured their safety, and not a single person died [אברבנאל].

The Ark was brought into the home of Abinadab, who was likely a Levite [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. His home was situated on a specific hill within the city [מצודת דוד]. Pinpointing this exact location serves a practical purpose: it either distinguishes this Abinadab from another resident with the same name, or it clarifies exactly which of his two houses became the resting place for the Ark [רד״ק, מלבי״ם].

To ensure the Ark received proper care, Abinadab's son, Eleazar, was designated for a special role. The primary approach among commentators is that he was specifically invited and appointed for this duty. This required him to step away from all ordinary, everyday work and dedicate himself exclusively to this purpose [מלבי״ם]. His responsibility was to guard the Ark, which did not involve physically handling the object itself. Rather, it meant maintaining its honorable placement and ensuring it suffered no neglect or disturbance [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Eleazar was placed in charge of keeping the home pure, honoring the space, and cleaning the area before the Ark. He also stood watch to prevent strangers from entering and gazing at it inappropriately [רד״ק, מצודת דוד].