Numberschapter 4

A.Kohath carries the holy things — and must not lookvv. 1-20

1 Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, 2 “Take a census of the Kohathites among the Levites by their clans and families, 3 men from thirty to fifty years old—everyone who is qualified to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting. 4 This service of the Kohathites at the Tent of Meeting regards the most holy things. 5 Whenever the camp sets out, Aaron and his sons are to go in, take down the veil of the curtain, and cover the ark of the Testimony with it. 6 They are to place over this a covering of fine leather, spread a solid blue cloth over it, and insert its poles. 7 Over the table of the Presence they are to spread a blue cloth and place the plates and cups on it, along with the bowls and pitchers for the drink offering. The regular bread offering is to remain on it. 8 And they shall spread a scarlet cloth over them, cover them with fine leather, and insert the poles. 9 They are to take a blue cloth and cover the lampstand used for light, together with its lamps, wick trimmers, and trays, as well as the jars of oil with which to supply it. 10 Then they shall wrap it and all its utensils inside a covering of fine leather and put it on the carrying frame. 11 Over the gold altar they are to spread a blue cloth, cover it with fine leather, and insert the poles. 12 They are to take all the utensils for serving in the sanctuary, place them in a blue cloth, cover them with fine leather, and put them on the carrying frame. 13 Then they shall remove the ashes from the bronze altar, spread a purple cloth over it, 14 and place on it all the vessels used to serve there: the firepans, meat forks, shovels, and sprinkling bowls—all the equipment of the altar. They are to spread over it a covering of fine leather and insert the poles. 15 When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy objects and all their equipment, as soon as the camp is ready to move, the Kohathites shall come and do the carrying. But they must not touch the holy objects, or they will die. These are the transportation duties of the Kohathites regarding the Tent of Meeting. 16 Eleazar son of Aaron the priest shall oversee the oil for the light, the fragrant incense, the daily grain offering, and the anointing oil. He has oversight of the entire tabernacle and everything in it, including the holy objects and their utensils.” 17 Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, 18 “Do not allow the Kohathite tribal clans to be cut off from among the Levites. 19 In order that they may live and not die when they come near the most holy things, do this for them: Aaron and his sons are to go in and assign each man his task and what he is to carry. 20 But the Kohathites are not to go in and look at the holy objects, even for a moment, or they will die.”

B.Gershon carries the curtains and coveringsvv. 21-28

21 And the LORD said to Moses, 22 “Take a census of the Gershonites as well, by their families and clans, 23 from thirty to fifty years old, counting everyone who comes to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting. 24 This is the service of the Gershonite clans regarding work and transport: 25 They are to carry the curtains of the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting with the covering of fine leather over it, the curtains for the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, 26 the curtains of the courtyard, and the curtains for the entrance at the gate of the courtyard that surrounds the tabernacle and altar, along with their ropes and all the equipment for their service. The Gershonites will do all that needs to be done with these items. 27 All the service of the Gershonites—all their transport duties and other work—is to be done at the direction of Aaron and his sons; you are to assign to them all that they are responsible to carry. 28 This is the service of the Gershonite clans at the Tent of Meeting, and their duties shall be under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.

C.Merari carries boards, bars, and socketsvv. 29-33

29 As for the sons of Merari, you are to number them by their clans and families, 30 from thirty to fifty years old, counting everyone who comes to serve in the work of the Tent of Meeting. 31 This is the duty for all their service at the Tent of Meeting: to carry the frames of the tabernacle with its crossbars, posts, and bases, 32 and the posts of the surrounding courtyard with their bases, tent pegs, and ropes, including all their equipment and everything related to their use. You shall assign by name the items that they are responsible to carry. 33 This is the service of the Merarite clans according to all their work at the Tent of Meeting, under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.”

D.The workmen counted, every man to his burdenvv. 34-49

34 So Moses, Aaron, and the leaders of the congregation numbered the Kohathites by their clans and families, 35 everyone from thirty to fifty years old who came to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting. 36 And those numbered by their clans totaled 2,750. 37 These were counted from the Kohathite clans, everyone who could serve at the Tent of Meeting. Moses and Aaron numbered them according to the command of the LORD through Moses. 38 Then the Gershonites were numbered by their clans and families, 39 everyone from thirty to fifty years old who came to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting. 40 And those numbered by their clans and families totaled 2,630. 41 These were counted from the Gershonite clans who served at the Tent of Meeting, whom Moses and Aaron counted at the LORD’s command. 42 And the Merarites were numbered by their clans and families, 43 everyone from thirty to fifty years old who came to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting. 44 The men registered by their clans numbered 3,200. 45 These were counted from the Merarite clans, whom Moses and Aaron numbered at the LORD’s command through Moses. 46 So Moses, Aaron, and the leaders of Israel numbered by their clans and families all the Levites 47 from thirty to fifty years old who came to do the work of serving and carrying the Tent of Meeting. 48 And the number of men was 8,580. 49 At the LORD’s command they were numbered through Moses and each one was assigned his work and burden, as the LORD had commanded Moses.

Commentary on this chapter: read the Exposition

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Chapter summary

The Levite service assignments.

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The Levite service assignments. Kohath bears the ark, the table, the lampstand, the altars, and the vessels. But only after Aaron and his sons have covered them; they must not touch nor look upon the holy things lest they die. Gershon bears the curtains, coverings, and hangings. Merari bears the boards, bars, pillars, sockets, and cords. Each clan numbered from thirty to fifty years. The working age. Kohath 2,750; Gershon 2,630; Merari 3,200. Total 8,580. ‘Every one according to his service and according to his burden.’ The care of holy things is as exacting as the care of the army.

Drawn from Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory, Matthew Henry, Complete Commentary and John Wesley, Notes on the Old Testament.

Context

Law · Moses — Numbers overview

A. 1–20 Kohath carries the holy things — and must not look
B. 21–28 Gershon carries the curtains and coverings
C. 29–33 Merari carries boards, bars, and sockets
D. 34–49 The workmen counted, every man to his burden

Top cross-references8 chapters ▾

Numbers 415 verses
- Numbers 4:3men from thirty to fifty years old—everyone who is qualified to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting.
- Numbers 4:6They are to place over this a covering of fine leather, spread a solid blue cloth over it, and insert its poles.
- Numbers 4:9They are to take a blue cloth and cover the lampstand used for light, together with its lamps, wick trimmers, and trays, as well as the jars of oil with which to supply it.
- Numbers 4:11Over the gold altar they are to spread a blue cloth, cover it with fine leather, and insert the poles.
- Numbers 4:12They are to take all the utensils for serving in the sanctuary, place them in a blue cloth, cover them with fine leather, and put them on the carrying frame.
- Numbers 4:15When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy objects and all their equipment, as soon as the camp is ready to move, the Kohathites shall come and do the carrying. But they must not touch the holy objects, or they will die. These are the transportation duties of the Kohathites regarding the Tent of Meeting.
- Read Numbers 4: 9 more there →
Numbers 311 verses
- Numbers 3:18These were the names of the sons of Gershon by their clans: Libni and Shimei.
- Numbers 3:19The sons of Kohath by their clans were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.
- Numbers 3:21From Gershon came the Libnite clan and the Shimeite clan; these were the Gershonite clans.
- Numbers 3:24and the leader of the families of the Gershonites was Eliasaph son of Lael.
- Numbers 3:25The duties of the Gershonites at the Tent of Meeting were the tabernacle and tent, its covering, the curtain for the entrance to the Tent of Meeting,
- Numbers 3:27From Kohath came the clans of the Amramites, the Izharites, the Hebronites, and the Uzzielites; these were the clans of the Kohathites.
- Read Numbers 3: 5 more there →
Exodus 255 verses
- Exodus 25:6olive oil for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense;
- Exodus 25:9You must make the tabernacle and design all its furnishings according to the pattern I show you.
- Exodus 25:13And make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold.
- Exodus 25:23You are also to make a table of acacia wood two cubits long, a cubit wide, and a cubit and a half high.
- Exodus 25:31Then you are to make a lampstand of pure, hammered gold. It shall be made of one piece, including its base and shaft, its cups, and its buds and petals.
- Read Exodus 25 →
Exodus 374 verses
- Exodus 37:1Bezalel went on to construct the ark of acacia wood, two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high.
- Exodus 37:10He also made the table of acacia wood two cubits long, a cubit wide, and a cubit and a half high.
- Exodus 37:17Then he made the lampstand out of pure hammered gold, all of one piece: its base and shaft, its cups, and its buds and petals.
- Exodus 37:25He made the altar of incense out of acacia wood. It was square, a cubit long, a cubit wide, and two cubits high. Its horns were of one piece.
- Read Exodus 37 →

4 more chapters this one speaks with

Numbers 73 verses
- Numbers 7:5“Accept these gifts from them, that they may be used in the work of the Tent of Meeting. And give them to the Levites, to each man according to his service.”
- Numbers 7:8and he gave the Merarites four carts and eight oxen, as their service required, all under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.
- Numbers 7:9But he did not give any to the Kohathites, since they were to carry on their shoulders the holy objects for which they were responsible.
- Read Numbers 7 →
1 Corinthians 123 verses
- 1 Corinthians 12:4There are different gifts, but the same Spirit.
- 1 Corinthians 12:5There are different ministries, but the same Lord.
- 1 Corinthians 12:8To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by the same Spirit,
- Read 1 Corinthians 12 →
1 Chronicles 232 verses
- 1 Chronicles 23:3The Levites thirty years of age or older were counted, and the total number of men was 38,000.
- 1 Chronicles 23:24These were the descendants of Levi by their families—the heads of families, registered individually by name—those twenty years of age or older who worked in the service of the house of the LORD.
- Read 1 Chronicles 23 →
Exodus 352 verses
- Exodus 35:18the tent pegs for the tabernacle and for the courtyard, along with their ropes;
- Exodus 35:19and the woven garments for ministering in the holy place—both the holy garments for Aaron the priest and the garments for his sons to serve as priests.”
- Read Exodus 35 →

Cross-references from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and OpenBible.info.