Numbers 7:9
in Numbers 7But he did not give any to the Kohathites, since they were to carry on their shoulders the holy objects for which they were responsible.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
But unto the sons of Kohath he gave none, because the service of the sanctuary belonged unto them; they bare it upon their shoulders.
KJV
But unto the sons of Kohath he gave none: because the service of the sanctuary belonging unto them was that they should bear upon their shoulders.
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This verse in Numbers 7
Commentary
4 notes on this verseUnto the sons of Kohath he gave none - Because they had the charge of the ark, table, candlestick, altars, etc., Num 4:5-15, which were to be carried upon their shoulders; for those sacred things must not be drawn by beasts.
This site's exposition
the LORD spake unto Moses
on Numbers 7:4-9
The wagons are divided by what each Levite family has to carry. Gershon takes two, and Merari, who carry the boards, bars, pillars and sockets, takes four. Kohath is given none, and verse 9 says why, that the service of the sanctuary belonging unto them was that they should bear upon their shoulders, so the ark and the holy furniture travel on men and never on wheels. 2 Samuel 6:3-7 is where that rule is set aside and a man dies for it.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
But unto the sons of Kohath he gave none,.... Being all disposed of to the sons of Gershon and Merari: the reason of which follows: because the service of the sanctuary belonging unto them was that they should bear upon their shoulders; as the ark with the mercy seat, and cherubim, the shewbread table, the candlestick, and the two altars; though in later times we find the ark was sometimes not only carried by the priests, but upon a cart, Jos 3:17.
And, though it was a time of joy and rejoicing, yet it is observable that still in the midst of their sacrifices we find a sin-offering. Since in our best services we are conscious to ourselves that there is a mixture of sin, it is fit that there should be even in our most joyful services a mixture of repentance.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
On the verses either side of this one
The leaders brought forward the [offerings for] the consecration of the altar on the day it was anointed.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 4 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
10 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וְלִבְנֵ֥י | velivnei | and to [the] descendants of | H1121 → | 4930 times |
| קְהָ֖ת | kehat | Kohath | H6955 → | 32 times |
| לֹ֣א | lo' | not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| נָתָ֑ן | natan | he gave | H5414 → | 2011 times |
| כִּֽי־ | ki- | for | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| עֲבֹדַ֤ת | ʾavodat | [the] service of | H5656 → | 145 times |
| הַקֹּ֙דֶשׁ֙ | hakodesh | the holy thing[s] | H6944 → | 469 times |
| עֲלֵהֶ֔ם | ʾalehem | [was] on them | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| בַּכָּתֵ֖ף | bakatef | on the shoulder | H3802 → | |
| יִשָּֽׂאוּ׃ | yisau | they carried | H5375 → | 656 times |
וְלִבְנֵ֥יand to [the] descendants of
velivneiH1121 →4930 times
קְהָ֖תKohath
kehatH6955 →32 times
לֹ֣אnot
lo'H3808 →5168 times
נָתָ֑ןhe gave
natanH5414 →2011 times
כִּֽי־for
ki-H3588 →4482 times
עֲבֹדַ֤ת[the] service of
ʾavodatH5656 →145 times
הַקֹּ֙דֶשׁ֙the holy thing[s]
hakodeshH6944 →469 times
עֲלֵהֶ֔ם[was] on them
ʾalehemH5921 →5755 times
בַּכָּתֵ֖ףon the shoulder
bakatefH3802 →
יִשָּֽׂאוּ׃they carried
yisauH5375 →656 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
2 Samuel 6:6When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen had stumbled.
it leads to
- Numbers 4:15
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…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 1 Chronicles 13:9
When they came to the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark, because the oxen had stumbled.
- Numbers 4:15
Through
1 Chronicles 15:13It was because you Levites were not with us the first time that the LORD our God burst forth in anger against us. For we did not consult Him about the proper order.”
it leads to
- 2 Samuel 6:3
They set the ark of God on a new cart and brought it from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were guiding the new…
- 1 Corinthians 14:40
But everything must be done in a proper and orderly manner.
- 1 Corinthians 11:2
Now I commend you for remembering me in everything and for maintaining the traditions, just as I passed them on to you.
- 1 John 1:8–10
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
- 2 Samuel 6:3
Through
2 Samuel 6:13When those carrying the ark of the LORD had advanced six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened calf.
it leads to
- 1 Kings 8:5
There, before the ark, King Solomon and the whole congregation of Israel who had assembled with him sacrificed so many sheep and oxen that they could not be counted or numbered.
- 1 Chronicles 15:15
And the Levites carried the ark of God on their shoulders with the poles, as Moses had commanded in accordance with the word of the LORD.
- 1 Kings 8:5
About Numbers
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Keil and Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament: The Pentateuch and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.