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Numbers Chapter
Four
New King James Version (NKJV)
INTRODUCTION TO NUMBERS 4
This
chapter relates an order to number the Levites fit for business
and gives an
account of the time and age when they should enter into service
and how long
they should continue therein
Numbers 4:1; what
their particular service should be; and first of the Kohathites
Numbers 4:4; next
of the Gershonites
Numbers 4:21; and
then of the Merarites
Numbers 4:29; after
which Moses and Aaron
with the chief of the congregation
numbered each of
them
even as many as were at the age fit for service
as the Kohathites
Numbers 4:34; the
Gershonites
Numbers 4:38; the
Merarites
Numbers 4:42; the
sum total of which is given
Numbers 4:46.
Numbers 4:1 Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron
saying:
YLT
1And Jehovah speaketh unto
Moses
and unto Aaron
saying
And the Lord spake unto Moses
and unto Aaron
.... After
they had taken the number of the Levites
and made an exchange of the firstborn
of Israel for them; and now they are ordered to number them a second time
and
take out from them such as were fit for service:
saying; as follows.
Numbers 4:2 2 “Take a census of the sons of Kohath from among the
children of Levi
by their families
by their fathers’ house
YLT
2`Take up the sum of the
sons of Kohath from the midst of the sons of Levi
by their families
by the
house of their fathers;
Take the sum of the sons of Kohath from among the sons of Levi
.... They were
to begin with them first
and number them:
after their families
by the house of their fathers; as many as
were of the age after mentioned; and the reason why they began with Kohath
and
not Gershon
the eldest son
as in the former numbering
was; not as Aben Ezra
suggests
because of Moses and Aaron
who sprung from him
for that
if it had
any strength in it
would have held good before; but rather
as Chaskuni and
others
because the Kohathites carried the ark and other holy things; though
the true reason seems to be
because of the order observed in taking down the
tabernacle
and removing the parts of it
and the things in it; and it was most
proper and reasonable
when they were about to take it down
first to take out
the ark
table
&c. which was the business of the Kohathites to carry; next
to take down the curtains
coverings
and hangings for the tabernacle and
court
and the doors thereof
which were the charge of the Merarites;
wherefore
in this order the sum out of each of them fit for business were
ordered to be numbered.
Numbers 4:3 3 from thirty years old and above
even to fifty years
old
all who enter the service to do the work in the tabernacle of meeting.
YLT
3from a son of thirty years
and upward
even till a son of fifty years
every one going in to the host
to
do work in the tent of meeting.
From thirty years old and upward even until fifty years old
.... This is
the full time of the Levites service
and the prime season of man's life for
business; at thirty years of age he is at his full strength
and when fifty it
begins to decline: it is said in the MisnahF24Pirke Abot
c. 5.
sect. 21.
"a son of thirty years for strength
'upon which one of the
commentatorsF25Bartenora in Pirke Abot
c. 5. sect. 21. makes this
remark
that the Levites set up the tabernacle and took it down
and loaded the
wagons
and carried on their shoulders from thirty years and upwards: thus both
John the Baptist
the forerunner of Christ
and Christ himself
entered into
their ministry at this age:
all that enter into the host; army or warfare; for
though the Levites were exempted from going forth to war
yet their service was
a sort of warfare; they were a camp of themselves about the tabernacle
and
part of their work was to watch and guard it
that it was neither defiled nor
robbed; in allusion to this
the ministry of the word is called a warfare
and
ministers of the Gospel good soldiers of Christ
and their doctrines weapons of
warfare
1 Timothy 1:18;
some interpret this of the troop
company
or congregation of the Levites
which a man of thirty years of age was admitted into for business:
to do the work in the tabernacle of the congregation; not in the
sanctuary
either in the holy place or in the most holy place
where they were
never allowed to enter
or do any business in
such as sacrificing
burning
incense
&c. but in that part of it which was called "the tabernacle
of the congregation"
or where the people assembled on occasion
and that
was the court
which was so called
as Jarchi observes on Exodus 29:32.
Numbers 4:4 4 “This is the service of the sons of Kohath in
the tabernacle of meeting
relating to the most holy things:
YLT
4`This [is] the service of
the sons of Kohath in the tent of meeting
the holy of holies:
This shall be the service of the sons of Kohath
in the
tabernacle of the congregation
.... What follows
Numbers 4:4
about the most holy
things; which Aben Ezra interprets only of the ark
which was indeed a
most holy thing
and stood in the most holy place; but there were other holy
things
in the care of which the service of the Kohathites lay; as the
shewbread table
the candlestick
and the altars of incense and burnt offering
and the vail
and the ministering: vessels
which Jarchi reckons with it
as
more holy than all other things.
Numbers 4:5 5 When the camp prepares to journey
Aaron and his sons
shall come
and they shall take down the covering veil and cover the ark of the
Testimony with it.
YLT
5that Aaron and his sons
have come in
in the journeying of the camp
and have taken down the vail of
the hanging
and have covered with it the ark of the testimony;
And when the camp setteth forward
.... Upon the cloud's
removing and the trumpets blowing:
Aaron shall come
and his sons; into the holy place:
and they shall take down the covering vail: the vail that
divided between the holy and the most holy place
which covered all in the holy
of holies out of sight:
and cover the ark of testimony with it; together with
the mercy seat and cherubim on it
that they might not be seen nor touched by
the Levites when they carried them. Now though the high priest himself might
not go into the most holy place but once a year
on the day of atonement
yet
on this occasion
when the tabernacle was to be taken down
and the things in
it to be removed
both he and his sons might enter without danger; since
as
Bishop Patrick observes
the divine Majesty was gone from thence in the cloud
which gave the signal for the motion of the camp
and the taking down of the
tabernacle.
Numbers 4:6 6 Then they shall put on it a covering of badger skins
and spread over that a cloth entirely of blue; and they shall insert its
poles.
YLT
6and have put on it a
covering of badger skin
and have spread a garment completely of blue above
and have placed its staves.
And shall put thereon the covering of badgers' skins
.... Not that
which covered the tabernacle
for that was committed to the Gershonites
Numbers 4:25; but a
covering made of these on purpose for the present use
to preserve the ark from
rain and dust; and this covering was put not immediately upon the ark
but upon
the other coverings that were over the ark
and so preserved the vail as well
as the ark:
and shall spread over it a cloth wholly of blue; it is a
matter of question
whether this was over the covering of badgers' skins also;
if over the latter
as one would think it should be
by the order of the text
how could that be a shelter from the rain and dust
which seems to be the use
of it
and therefore should be the outermost
as one of the same kind was the
outermost covering of the tabernacle? Aben Ezra observes
there were some that
say it was over the covering of badger's skin
but it is right in mine eyes
says he
that it was spread over the covering vail; if indeed it was for the
sake of honour and dignity
the first is right
but the badger's skin was on
account of rain and dust:
and shall put in the staves thereof: having been removed
while the ark was covering
as Aben Ezra observes
or otherwise they always
remained in their rings
and were never taken out
Exodus 25:14; but
on this occasion they might
and then be put in again for the carrying of the
ark
which was the use of them; though he also remarks
that there are some
that say the sense is
they put the staves on the shoulders of them that
carried it
which is not a despicable sense; unless rather it is to be
understood of putting the staves through holes made in the coverings of the
ark
and disposing and fitting them in them
for the better carriage of it.
Numbers 4:7 7 “On the table of showbread they shall spread a blue
cloth
and put on it the dishes
the pans
the bowls
and the pitchers for
pouring; and the showbread[a] shall be
on it.
YLT
7`And on the table of the
presence they spread a garment of blue
and have put on it the dishes
and the
spoons
and the bowls
and the cups of the libation
and the bread of
continuity is on it
And upon the table of shewbread they shall spread a cloth of blue
.... That that
also might not be seen nor touched by the Levites:
and put thereon the dishes
and the spoons
and the bowls
and the
covers to cover withal: all which belonged to the shewbread table; the use of which; see
Gill on Exodus 25:29; these
seem to be put not immediately upon the table
but upon the blue cloth spread
over the table:
and the continual bread shall be thereon: the shewbread
is called "continual"
because it was always on the table; for while
the one was removing by a set of priests
which had stood a week
new loaves
were placed by another set of priests: this bread seems at this time to be
placed also upon the table
spread with the blue cloth; and from hence it
appears
that the Israelites had the shewbread in the wilderness; for the
making of which they might be supplied with corn from the neighbouring
countries
though they themselves needed not any
being daily fed with manna.
Numbers 4:8 8 They shall spread over them a scarlet cloth
and cover
the same with a covering of badger skins; and they shall insert its poles.
YLT
8and they have spread over
them a garment of scarlet
and have covered it with a covering of badger skin
and
have placed its staves
And they shall spread upon them a cloth of scarlet
.... Upon the
dishes and other vessels belonging to the shewbread table
and on the shewbread
itself:
and cover the same with a covering of badgers' skins; this was
clearly the outward covering
and seems to confirm the observation made in Numbers 4:6; that
the same sort of covering was the outermost covering of the ark:
and shall put in the staves thereof; which belonged to the
table
and were made to carry it with on occasion
from place to place; see Exodus 25:27; and
the same phrase being used as here of the staves of the ark in Numbers 4:6; seems
to confirm the sense of them there
that they were taken out and put in upon
this occasion
though otherwise fixed.
Numbers 4:9 9 And they shall take a blue cloth and cover the
lampstand of the light
with its lamps
its wick-trimmers
its trays
and all
its oil vessels
with which they service it.
YLT
9and have taken a garment of
blue
and have covered the candlestick of the lamp
and its lights
and its
snuffers
and its snuff-dishes
and all its oil vessels wherewith they minister
to it;
And they shall take a cloth of blue
and cover the candlestick of
the light
and his lamps
.... Which had lamps in it
and were continually lighted
and
gave light in the holy place:
and his tongs
and his snuff dishes
and all the oil vessels
thereof
wherewith they minister unto it; by supplying the lamps
with oil
and snuffing and trimming them.
Numbers 4:10 10 Then they shall put it with all its utensils in a
covering of badger skins
and put it on a carrying beam.
YLT
10and they have put it and
all its vessels unto a covering of badger skin
and have put [it] on the bar.
And they shall put it
and all the vessels thereof
within a
covering of badgers' skins
.... Which here also was the outermost
covering; the ark and the shewbread table had three coverings
but the
candlestick only two
they being more sacred than that
especially the ark:
and shall put it upon a bar; the word "mot"
perhaps signifies a kind of mat or mattress
on which the candlestick and its
vessels
bundled together in the covering of the badgers' skins
were laid and
carried between men on staves; and so the Septuagint render the word
"staves"; as does the Targum of Onkelos.
Numbers 4:11 11 “Over the golden altar they shall spread a blue cloth
and cover it with a covering of badger skins; and they shall insert its poles.
YLT
11`And on the golden altar
they spread a garment of blue
and have covered it with a covering of badger
skin
and have placed its staves;
And upon the golden altar they shall spread a cloth of blue
.... The altar
of incense
which was overlaid with gold
and therefore called a golden one
to
which the allusion is in Revelation 8:3
and cover it with a covering of badgers' skins; after the
cloth of blue was spread upon it:
and shall put to the staves thereof; into the rings
both
made to bear and carry it
upon occasion
from place to place.
Numbers 4:12 12 Then they shall take all the utensils of service with
which they minister in the sanctuary
put them in a blue cloth
cover
them with a covering of badger skins
and put them on a carrying beam.
YLT
12and have taken all the
vessels of ministry wherewith they minister in the sanctuary
and have put
[them] unto a garment of blue
and have covered them with a covering of badger
skin
and have put [them] on the bar
And they shall take all the instruments of ministry
wherewith they minister in the sanctuary
.... The
garments in which the priests
ministered in the sanctuary
which were laid up
in proper places
and which they only wore when in service:
and put them in a cloth of blue
and cover them with a
covering of badgers' skins; all wrapped up in one bundle:
and shall put them on a bar; the same sort of
carriage on which the candlestick and its vessels were borne; see Gill on Numbers 4:10.
Numbers 4:13 13 Also they shall take away the ashes from the altar
and spread a purple cloth over it.
YLT
13and have removed the ashes
of the altar
and have spread over it a garment of purple;
And they shall take away the ashes from the altar
and spread a
purple cloth thereon. Having cleared the holy of holies
and the holy place
they were
to come forth from thence into the court of the tabernacle
where stood the altar
of burnt offering
which is here meant
and on which sacrifices being daily
burnt
there were always ashes to be removed; and which at this time was highly
necessary to be done
when the tabernacle was taken down
and all belonging to
it to be carried away; and though no mention is made of the fire
which was
always burning on it
it was doubtless preserved
and care was taken for the
carrying it along with the altar
or in a separate vessel from it. Bishop
Patrick supposes it might be carried upon the grate.
Numbers 4:14 14 They shall put on it all its implements with which
they minister there—the firepans
the forks
the shovels
the basins
and all
the utensils of the altar—and they shall spread on it a covering of badger
skins
and insert its poles.
YLT
14and have put on it all its
vessels wherewith they minister about it
the censers
the hooks
and the
shovels
and the bowls
all the vessels of the altar
and have spread on it a
covering of badger skin
and have placed its staves:
And they shall put upon it all the vessels thereof
.... Upon the
altar covered with a blue cloth; on that were to be put everything belonging to
the altar:
wherewith they minister about it; the priests
when they
offered sacrifice on it:
even the censers
the fleshhooks
and the shovels
and the basins
all the vessels of the altar; of which see Exodus 27:3
and they shall spread upon it a covering of badgers' skins: to prevent
the rains falling upon them
which being all of brass
would be apt to tarnish:
and put to the staves of it; which were made to bear
and carry it on such an occasion as this
Exodus 27:6. No
mention is made of the laver
though there is both in the Septuagint and
Samaritan versions
which add
"and they shall take a purple cloth and
cover the layer
and its base
and shall put it into a covering of skin of a
blue colour
and put it upon bearers:'but perhaps the reason why this is not
mentioned is
because it was carried uncovered; the mystery of which
Ainsworth
conjectures
was this
that it might be a lively representation of the grace of
God in Christ
continuing and opened as an ever springing fountain
where
always God's elect
having faith in him
may wash and purge themselves in the
blood of Christ unto forgiveness of sin sanctification of the Spirit
and
salvation; see Zechariah 13:1.
Numbers 4:15 15 And when Aaron and his sons have finished covering the
sanctuary and all the furnishings of the sanctuary
when the camp is set to go
then the sons of Kohath shall come to carry them; but they shall not
touch any holy thing
lest they die.
“These are the things in the tabernacle of meeting which
the sons of Kohath are to carry.
YLT
15`And Aaron hath finished --
his sons also -- covering the sanctuary
and all the vessels of the sanctuary
in the journeying of the camp
and afterwards do the sons of Kohath come in to
bear [it]
and they do not come unto the holy thing
that they have died; these
[things are] the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tent of meeting.
And when Aaron and his sons had made an end of covering the
sanctuary
.... Not the holy place
nor the most holy place
for these were
not covered by them; but "the holy things" in them
as the Septuagint
version
the ark
shewbread table
&c. and all "the vessels of the
sanctuary"; all appertaining to those holy things
which are before
mentioned. Jarchi interprets the "sanctuary"
or the
"holiness"
of the ark and altar:
and all the vessels of the sanctuary; of the
candlestick and the instruments of ministry:
as the camp is to set forward; which made the covering
of them necessary
in order to their being carried as that moved:
after that the sons of Kohath shall come to bear it; or rather
them
all the holy things
and their vessels
and that upon their shoulders:
but they shall not touch any holy thing; even in
bearing them
neither the ark nor any other
only the staves and bar
on which
they were carried: lest they die; by the immediate hand of God:
these things are the burden of the sons of Kohath
in the
tabernacle of the congregation; the above things
the ark
&c. which
they were to bear on their shoulders
and not make use of wagons to carry them.
Numbers 4:16 16 “The appointed duty of Eleazar the son of Aaron the
priest is the oil for the light
the sweet incense
the daily grain
offering
the anointing oil
the oversight of all the tabernacle
of all that is
in it
with the sanctuary and its furnishings.”
YLT
16`And the oversight of
Eleazar
son of Aaron the priest
[is] the oil of the lamp
and the
spice-perfume
and the present of continuity
and the anointing oil
the
oversight of all the tabernacle
and of all that [is] in it
in the sanctuary
and in its vessels.'
And to the office of Eleazar
the son of Aaron the priest
pertaineth the oil for
the light
.... The following things
to bear them
according to some Jewish
writers; but rather it was to give the oil for the light
that is
the vessels
and so the vessels of the oil to the sons of the Kohathites; agreeably to which
are the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan
who paraphrase the words
"and
that which was delivered to Eleazar
the son of Aaron the priest
the oil for
the light
&c.'And indeed the words
as they are in the Hebrew text
may be
rendered
"and the oversight of Eleazar
the son of Aaron the priest
shall
be
or "let it be"
the oil for the light
&c.F26So
Montanus
Tigurine version
Piscator. ;'the same word being so rendered in a
latter clause of this same text: he had the inspection of these
and on him lay
to see to it
that these were carried by the Kohathites
the oil for the light
of the lamps in the candlestick; of which see Exodus 27:20
and the sweet incense: to burn on the altar of
incense
Exodus 30:34
and the daily meat offering; offered with the lambs
morning and evening
Exodus 29:40
and the anointing oil; with which Aaron and his
sons were anointed
the tabernacle and all its vessels
Exodus 30:23
and the oversight of all the
tabernacle
and of all that therein is
in the sanctuary
and in the vessels thereof: the former
the oil for the light
&c. were his immediate oversight and care; but the
oversight of these by his brother Ithamar
according to the Jewish writers.
Numbers 4:17 17 Then the Lord spoke to
Moses and Aaron
saying:
YLT
17And Jehovah speaketh unto
Moses and unto Aaron
saying
And the Lord spake unto Moses
and unto Aaron
.... And gave
them a very solemn and awful charge about this affair of the Kohathites
it
being a very hazardous one they were employed in:
saying; as follows.
Numbers 4:18 18 “Do not cut off the tribe of the families of the
Kohathites from among the Levites;
YLT
18`Ye do not cut off the
tribe of the families of the Kohathite from the midst of the Levites;
Cut ye not off the tribe of the families of the Kohathites from
among the Levites. Or give no occasion
as the Targum of Jonathan; or be not the
cause of their cutting off
as Jarchi
through negligence or inadvertency of
theirs
in packing up the above things
and delivering them to them.
Numbers 4:19 19 but do this in regard to them
that they may live and
not die when they approach the most holy things: Aaron and his sons shall go in
and appoint each of them to his service and his task.
YLT
19but this do to them
and
they have lived
and do not die in their drawing nigh the holy of holies: --
Aaron and his sons go in
and have set them
each man to his service
and unto
his burden
But thus do unto them
.... As after directed:
that they may live and not die; live long
and not die a
sudden and violent death:
when they approach unto the most holy things; the ark
the
shewbread table
&c. to take them up and carry them:
Aaron and his sons shall go in; into the holy and most
holy places:
and appoint them in everyone to his service
and to his burden; what everyone
shall do
and how they shall take them up
and bear them.
Numbers 4:20 20 But they shall not go in to watch while the holy
things are being covered
lest they die.”
YLT
20and they go not in to see
when the holy thing is swallowed
that they have died.'
But they shall not go in to see when the holy things are covered
.... They were
not to be present while they were packing up
test they should see any of them
with their eyes; they were not to go in until they were quite covered out of
sight; which may signify the hiding of the mysteries of grace in those things
under the former dispensation
when even the Levites themselves were not
admitted to a sight of them; see Ephesians 3:4
lest they die; by the immediate hand of God.
Numbers 4:21 21 Then the Lord spoke to
Moses
saying:
YLT
21And Jehovah speaketh unto
Moses
saying
And the Lord spake unto Moses
.... Though Aaron is not
mentioned here
he was concerned in taking the sum of the Gershonites
as well
as of the Kohathites
as appears from Numbers 4:41
saying; as follows.
Numbers 4:22 22 “Also take a census of the sons of Gershon
by their
fathers’ house
by their families.
YLT
22`Take up the sum of the
sons of Gershon also by the house of their fathers
by their families;
Take also the sum of the sons of Gershon
.... As well
as of the sons of Kohath; for though Gershon was Levi's eldest son
yet his
posterity were not excused from the service of the tabernacle
and bearing
things of it in journeying:
throughout the houses of their fathers
by their families; all in their
several houses
and in the several families in those houses
that were of the
age next mentioned
were to be numbered.
Numbers 4:23 23 From thirty years old and above
even to fifty years
old
you shall number them
all who enter to perform the service
to do the
work in the tabernacle of meeting.
YLT
23from a son of thirty years
and upward
till a son of fifty years thou dost number them
every one who is
going in to serve the host
to do the service in the tent of meeting.
From thirty years old and upward
until fifty years old
shalt thou number them
.... Take an account how
many there are of that age
and so fit for serviceF1לצבא צבא "ad militandum
militiam"
Montanus
Drusius. ; See Gill on Numbers 4:3
to do the work in the tabernacle of the congregation; as the rest
of the Levites; see Numbers 4:3;
Numbers 4:24 24 This is the service of the families of the
Gershonites
in serving and carrying:
YLT
24`This [is] the service of
the families of the Gershonite
to serve -- and for burden
This is the service of the families of the Gershonites
to
serve
and for burdens. The former of these phrases Aben Ezra interprets of setting up
the tabernacle
making the bread (the shewbread)
slaying (the sacrifices)
and
keeping
that is
watching and guarding
the tabernacle; and the latter of what
they did when journeying
bearing and carrying the things assigned to them
afterwards mentioned.
Numbers 4:25 25 They shall carry the curtains of the tabernacle and
the tabernacle of meeting with its covering
the covering of badger
skins that is on it
the screen for the door of the tabernacle of
meeting
YLT
25and they have borne the
curtains of the tabernacle
and the tent of meeting
its covering
and the
covering of the badger [skin] which [is] on it above
and the vail at the
opening of the tent of meeting
And they shall bear the curtains of the tabernacle
.... The ten
curtains of fine linen
Exodus 26:1
and the tabernacle of the congregation; the curtains
of goats' hair made for a tent over it
as Jarchi
see Exodus 26:7
his covering the covering of rams skins dyed red
Exodus 26:14
and the covering of the badgers' skins that is above upon
it; over all the rest:
and the hanging for the door of the tabernacle of the congregation; the eastern
vail
as Jarchi calls it
which was for the door of the tent that led into the
tabernacle
the holy place
Exodus 26:36.
Numbers 4:26 26 the screen for the door of the gate of the court
the
hangings of the court which are around the tabernacle and altar
and
their cords
all the furnishings for their service and all that is made for
these things: so shall they serve.
YLT
26and the hangings of the
court
and the vail at the opening of the gate of the court which [is] by the
tabernacle
and by the altar round about
and their cords
and all the vessels
of their service
and all that is made for them -- and they have served.
And the hangings of the court
.... Which made the great
court that surrounded the tabernacle
Exodus 27:9
and the hanging for the door of the gate of the court; the eastern
gate that led into the court
an hanging of twenty cubits
Exodus 27:16
which is by the tabernacle
and by the altar round about; that is
which hangings that formed the court
and were round about the tabernacle
and
the altar of burnt offering; See Gill on Exodus 26:36
and their cords; which fastened the hangings to pins or
stakes fixed in the ground to keep them tight
that they might not be moved to
and fro with the wind:
and all the instruments of their service; in the court
as the tables on which the sacrifices were laid
and the hooks
and cords
and
pins
on which they were hung and fastened
as Aben Ezra; see Ezekiel 40:39
and all that is made for them; for the vessels of
service
or for the tabernacle
or the altar
as the same writer intimates:
so shall they serve; by bearing them and
carrying them.
Numbers 4:27 27 “Aaron and his sons shall assign all the service of
the sons of the Gershonites
all their tasks and all their service. And you
shall appoint to them all their tasks as their duty.
YLT
27`By the command of Aaron
and his sons is all the service of the sons of the Gershonite in all their
burden
and in all their service; and ye have laid a charge on them concerning
the charge of all their burden.
At the appointment of Aaron and his sons
.... As they
shall order and direct:
shall be all the service of the sons of the Gershonites; everyone of
them was to take their share
as Aaron and his sons should appoint them:
in all their burdens
and in all their service; what each of
them should carry
and in what they should perform duty:
and ye shall appoint to them in charge all their burdens; charge them
carefully to keep all that were committed to them to bear
that none be lost
not a pin nor a cord.
Numbers 4:28 28 This is the service of the families of the sons
of Gershon in the tabernacle of meeting. And their duties shall be under
the authority[b] of Ithamar
the son of Aaron the priest.
YLT
28This [is] the service of
the families of the sons of the Gershonite in the tent of meeting; and their
charge [is] under the hand of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.
This is the service of the families of the sons of Gershon
.... Which
they should execute when the camp and tabernacle were in motion:
in the tabernacle of the congregation in the court; where they
should take up their burdens
or which lie in things respecting the tabernacle;
this was the part they were to be employed in
namely
in taking care of the
hangings of the tabernacle
&c.
and their charge shall be under the hand of Ithamar the son
of Aaron the priest; the things committed to their care were delivered by him to
them
and they were under his inspection and direction.
Numbers 4:29 29 “As for the sons of Merari
you shall number
them by their families and by their fathers’ house.
YLT
29`The sons of Merari
by
their families
by the house of their fathers
thou dost number them;
As for the sons of Merari
.... The third and
youngest son of Levi:
thou shalt number them after their families
by the house of their
fathers; which is the form of expression used of them all; See Gill on Numbers 4:2.
Numbers 4:30 30 From thirty years old and above
even to fifty years
old
you shall number them
everyone who enters the service to do the work of
the tabernacle of meeting.
YLT
30from a son of thirty years
and upward even unto a son of fifty years thou dost number them
every one who
is going in to the host
to do the service of the tent of meeting.
From thirty years old and upward
.... The Septuagint
version here
and in Numbers 4:3
renders it
from twenty five years old and upward
agreeable to Numbers 8:24
at
the which age the Levites went into the tabernacle
to wait and to learn their
business
but they did not enter upon it till thirty:
even unto fifty years old shalt thou number them; at which age
they were discharged from business:
everyone that entereth into the service
to do the work of the
tabernacle of the congregation; See Gill on Numbers 4:3.
Numbers 4:31 31 And this is what they must carry as all their
service for the tabernacle of meeting: the boards of the tabernacle
its bars
its pillars
its sockets
YLT
31`And this [is] the charge
of their burden
of all their service in the tent of meeting; the boards of the
tabernacle
and its bars
and its pillars
and its sockets
And this is the charge of their burden
.... What
should be committed to their care and charge
and they should bear and carry:
according to all their service in the tabernacle of the
congregation; which was assigned to them as their part
and which was very
heavy and cumbersome
and therefore they had wagons allowed them
Numbers 7:8
the boards of the tabernacle
and the bars thereof
and the
pillars thereof
and sockets thereof; all these belonged to
the holy and to the most holy place; see Exodus 26:15.
Numbers 4:32 32 and the pillars around the court with their sockets
pegs
and cords
with all their furnishings and all their service; and you
shall assign to each man by name the items he must carry.
YLT
32and the pillars of the
court round about
and their sockets
and their pins
and their cords
of all
their vessels
and of all their service; and by name ye do number the vessels
of the charge of their burden.
And the pillars of the court round about
and their sockets
and their pins
and their cords
.... These belonged to
the court of the tabernacle; the pillars were what the hangings were hung upon
and the sockets
into which the pillars were set
and the and cords
with which
the hangings were fastened; see Exodus 27:9
with all their instruments
and with all their service; whatever else
were used in
and served for the support of this part of the tabernacle:
and by name ye shall reckon the instruments of the charge of their
burden; everything
even the least that were committed to their charge
and they were to bear and carry
either they themselves
or in wagons
were to
be mentioned by name; and not only every board
pillar
and socket
were to be
told out to them
and particularly named
how many they were
to what they
belonged
from whence they were taken
and where to be replaced; but every pin
and cord
and the use of them
that so when they came to set up the tabernacle
again
there might be nothing wanting in its place to secure it
and make it as
firm as at first: such particular notice and care does God take of all his
people
and Christ of all committed to him
and so should ministers of the word
of all that are their charge
who must one day give an account to God
Hebrews 13:17.
Numbers 4:33 33 This is the service of the families of the sons
of Merari
as all their service for the tabernacle of meeting
under the
authority[c] of Ithamar
the son of Aaron the priest.”
YLT
33`This [is] the service of
the families of the sons of Merari
for all their service
in the tent of
meeting
by the hand of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.'
This is the service of the families of the sons of Merari
.... The
Mahlites and Mushites
namely
the service before observed
the particulars of
which are given:
according to all their service in the tabernacle of the
congregation; agreeably to what was allotted to them in that part of the
tabernacle they were concerned in:
under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest; who had the
oversight of these as well as of the Gershonites
as Eleazar had of the
Kohathites; though as Eleazar was the chief of the tribe of Levi
it is thought
that Ithamar acted under him
Numbers 3:32.
Numbers 4:34 34 And Moses
Aaron
and the leaders of the congregation
numbered the sons of the Kohathites by their families and by their fathers’
house
YLT
34And Moses numbereth --
Aaron also
and the princes of the company -- the sons of the Kohathite
by
their families
and by the house of their fathers
And Moses and Aaron
and the chief of the congregation
numbered the sons of the Kohathites
.... Perhaps these chiefs
were the same with those who were concerned with Moses and Aaron in numbering
all the tribes whose names were given
Numbers 1:5; the
Kohathites are begun with
according to the divine direction
and then the
Gershonites and Merarites in their order; and in Numbers 4:34 is
only an account of the numbering of each of them
as ordered by the Lord
and
this account is expressed in the same terms in them all; there remains nothing
to be observed but the particular sums of each of them
the number of the
Kohathites from thirty years old even to fifty
men able and fit for business
were 2750
Numbers 4:36;
whereas their number from a month old were 8600
Numbers 3:28; so
that not a third part of them were at an age for service: the number of the
Gershonites were 2630
Numbers 4:40; whose
number of males in all were 7500
Numbers 3:22; so
that they were rather more than a third part who were able-bodied then and fit
for business; and the number of the Merarites were 3200
Numbers 4:44; and
as the number of males of a month old and upwards were 6200
Numbers 3:34; there
were more than half of them able and fit men for service; in which
as
Ainsworth observes
may be seen the wisdom of divine Providence
that whereas
the service of the Kohathites and Gershonites were the lightest
and what was
committed to them the easiest of carriage
they had the fewer hands of able men
to be employed
though their numbers of individuals were the greatest; and the
Merarites
who had the smallest number of males
yet having the heaviest work
to do in carrying burdens
loading and unloading wagons
were superior to the
rest in their number of able bodied men; and thus God makes good his promise
that as the day of his people is
their strength shall be; whatever work and
service God calls men to
he will fit them for it: the sum total of the
Levites
in the several divisions of them
who were between: thirty and fifty
years of age
in which they performed their office
was 8580
Numbers 4:48; a
small number
as the above writer observes
of such as warred the spiritual
warfare in the sanctuary of God
when the tribe of Judah afforded 74
600 for
the outward warfare.
after their families
and after the house of their fathers; See Gill on Numbers 4:2.
Numbers 4:35 35 from thirty years old and above
even to fifty years
old
everyone who entered the service for work in the tabernacle of meeting;
YLT
35from a son of thirty years
and upward even unto a son of fifty years
every one who is going in to the
host
for service in the tent of meeting
From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old
.... See Gill
on Numbers 4:34.
Numbers 4:36 36 and those who were numbered by their families were two
thousand seven hundred and fifty.
YLT
36and their numbered ones
by
their families
are two thousand seven hundred and fifty.
And those that were numbered of them by their families
.... See Gill
on Numbers 4:34.
Numbers 4:37 37 These were the ones who were numbered of the
families of the Kohathites
all who might serve in the tabernacle of meeting
whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the commandment of the Lord by the hand of Moses.
YLT
37These [are] those numbered
of the families of the Kohathite
every one who is serving in the tent of
meeting
whom Moses and Aaron numbered
by the command of Jehovah
by the hand
of Moses.
These were they that were numbered of the families of the
Kohathites
.... See Gill on Numbers 4:34.
Numbers 4:38 38 And those who were numbered of the sons of Gershon
by
their families and by their fathers’ house
YLT
38And those numbered of the
sons of Gershon
by their families
and by the house of their fathers
And those that were numbered of the sons of Gershon
.... See Gill
on Numbers 4:34.
Numbers 4:39 39 from thirty years old and above
even to fifty years
old
everyone who entered the service for work in the tabernacle of meeting—
YLT
39from a son of thirty years
and upward even unto a son of fifty years
every one who is going in to the
host
for service in the tent of meeting
From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old
.... See Gill
on Numbers 4:34.
Numbers 4:40 40 those who were numbered by their families
by their
fathers’ house
were two thousand six hundred and thirty.
YLT
40even their numbered ones
by their families
by the house of their fathers
are two thousand and six
hundred and thirty.
Even those that were numbered of them
.... See Gill
on Numbers 4:34;
Numbers 4:41 41 These are the ones who were numbered of the
families of the sons of Gershon
of all who might serve in the tabernacle of
meeting
whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the commandment of the Lord.
YLT
41These [are] those numbered
of the families of the sons of Gershon
every one who is serving in the tent of
meeting
whom Moses and Aaron numbered by the command of Jehovah.
These are they that were numbered of the families
.... See Gill
on Numbers 4:34;
Numbers 4:42 42 Those of the families of the sons of Merari who were
numbered
by their families
by their fathers’ house
YLT
42And those numbered of the
families of the sons of Merari
by their families
by the house of their
fathers
And those that were numbered of the families of the sons of Merari
.... See Gill
on Numbers 4:34;
Numbers 4:43 43 from thirty years old and above
even to fifty years
old
everyone who entered the service for work in the tabernacle of meeting—
YLT
43from a son of thirty years
and upward even unto a son of fifty years
every one who is going in to the
host
for service in the tent of meeting
From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old
.... See Gill
on Numbers 4:34.
Numbers 4:44 44 those who were numbered by their families were three
thousand two hundred.
YLT
44even their numbered ones
by their families
are three thousand and two hundred.
Even those that were numbered of them after their families
.... See Gill
on Numbers 4:34.
Numbers 4:45 45 These are the ones who were numbered of the
families of the sons of Merari
whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the
word of the Lord by the hand of Moses.
YLT
45These [are] those numbered
of the families of the sons of Merari
whom Moses and Aaron numbered
by the
command of Jehovah
by the hand of Moses.
These be those that were numbered of the families of the
sons of Merari
.... See Gill on Numbers 4:34;
Numbers 4:46 46 All who were numbered of the Levites
whom Moses
Aaron
and the leaders of Israel numbered
by their families and by their
fathers’ houses
YLT
46All those numbered
whom
Moses numbered -- Aaron also
and the princes of Israel -- of the Levites
by
their families
and by the house of their fathers
All those that were numbered of the Levites
whom Moses and Aaron
and the chief of Israel numbered
.... See Gill on Numbers 3:34.
Numbers 4:47 47 from thirty years old and above
even to fifty years
old
everyone who came to do the work of service and the work of bearing
burdens in the tabernacle of meeting—
YLT
47from a son of thirty years
and upward even unto a son of fifty years
every one who is going in to do the
work of the service
even the service of burden in the tent of meeting
From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old
.... See Gill
on Numbers 4:34.
Numbers 4:48 48 those who were numbered were eight thousand five
hundred and eighty.
YLT
48even their numbered ones
are eight thousand and five hundred and eighty;
Even those that were numbered of them
.... See Gill
on Numbers 4:34.
Numbers 4:49 49 According to the commandment of the Lord they were numbered by the hand of Moses
each according to his
service and according to his task; thus were they numbered by him
as the Lord commanded Moses.
YLT
49by the command of Jehovah
hath [one] numbered them
by the hand of Moses
each man by his service
and by
his burden
with his numbered ones
as Jehovah hath commanded Moses.
According to the commandment of the Lord
they were numbered by
the hand of Moses
.... Aaron and the chief of the congregation of Israel assisting
it:
everyone according to his service; called in Numbers 4:47
"the service of the ministry"
or "service of service"
which Jarchi interprets of that part of the service of the Levites
which lay
in singing the song with cymbals and harps; which
he says
was a service to
another service; though it seems to be better explained
by Chaskuni
of their
taking down and setting up of the tabernacle
which was a service incumbent on
all the Levites:
and according to his burden: called "the service
of the burden"
Numbers 4:47; which
the last mentioned writer restrains to the ark
table
candlestick
and altars
which the Kohathites carried on their shoulders; but may be extended to what
each of them bore and carried when journeying:
thus were they numbered of him
as the Lord commanded Moses; from thirty
years old to fifty
as Jarchi observes; for that was the order given to Moses
by the Lord
which he punctually attended to
as a faithful servant in the
house of God.
──《John Gill’s
Exposition of the Bible》
New King James
Version (NKJV)