1The age and time of service of the Kohathites. 4They are appointed to bear the sanctuary and its vessels, after that the priests have taken down and covered them. 16The charge of Eleazar. 17The care of the priests required in covering the holy things. 21The age, time of service, and burden, of the Gershonites; 29and of the Merarites. 34The number of the Kohathites, 38of the Gershonites, 42and of the Merarites.
1AND the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,
2Take the 1sum of the sons of Kohath from among the sons of Levi, after their families, by the house of their fathers,
1 Hebr. the head. See Num. 1 on verse 2.
32From thirty years old and upward even until fifty years old, all that enter into 3the 4host, to do the work in the tabernacle of the congregation.
2 Hebr. from a son of thirty year. Also in the sequel. See Num. 3 on verse 15.
3 Understand an holy and ecclesiastical warfare in which the service of the tabernacle was to be exactly observed according to the order once instituted; even as the soldiers in military affairs, each one must discharge his duty and service according to his order and commands. Thus the ministry of the church is called a war or warfare, here and verses 23, 30, 35 and Num. 8:24, because the ministers thereof are bound to keep good order and incessantly to work, to watch and to fight against the enemies of men’s salvation. See 1 Cor. 9:7; 2 Cor. 10:3; 1 Tim. 1:18; 2 Tim. 2:3, 4.
4 Other, warfare or army. Also verses 30 and 43.
4This shall be the service of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation, about the 5most holy things:
5 Understand hereby the ark of the covenant, the table for the showbread, the candlestick, the altar of incense, the vessels and the furniture of the sanctuary, and the altar of burnt offerings; of which parts were somewhat said before in Num. 3:31, but now a fuller declaration is made. All these things were to be carried by the Kohathites in their journeys. See verse 15.
5¶And when the camp setteth forward, Aaron shall come, and his sons, and they shall take down the 6covering vail, and cover the ark of testimony with it:
6 See Exod. 26:31, 32, 33; Lev. 4 on verse 6 and Heb. 9:3, where it is called the second veil.
6And shall put thereon the 7covering of badgers' skins, and shall spread over it a cloth wholly of blue, and shall 8put in the staves thereof.
7 Of these see Exod. 25:5.
8 That is, so fit and accommodate them unto the same that it might be conveniently carried thereby, for, the said hand bars were always to remain in the rings of the ark, Exod. 25:15. Compare 1 Kings 8:8.
7And upona the 9table of shewbread they shall spread a cloth of blue, and put thereon the 10dishes, and the 11spoons, and the 12bowls, and 13covers to cover withal: and the 14continual bread shall be thereon:
a Exod. 25:30.
9 Hebr. the table of the faces, namely, of the bread of faces, otherwise called the showbread, which lay upon this table. Thus they were called because they were always laid upon the table as shown before the face of the LORD. And from this is the name the table of shewbread.
10 Wherein the showbread were laid (see of these Exod. 25:29) and remained there all the week until new ones were made and laid in their stead, Lev. 24:8.
11 Which with incense were placed above upon the showbread, Lev. 24:7.
12 From which they sprinkled and poured forth. Other, besoms, wherewith the table was wiped off and cleaned.
13 Hebr. the plates of covering, wherewith the showbread was covered. These were twelve, according to the number of the showbread. See Exod. 25:29. Other, the dishes of sprinkling.
14 Understand the twelve showbread which were to be renewed every sabbath, Lev. 24:8.
8And they shall spread upon them a cloth of scarlet, and cover the same with a covering of badgers' skins, and shall put in the staves thereof.
9And they shall take a cloth of blue, and cover theb candlestick of the light, and his lamps, and his tongs, and his snuffdishes,c and all the oil vessels thereof, 15wherewith they minister unto 16it:
b Exod. 25:31.
c Exod. 25:38.
15 See of this implement unto the candlestick and the lamps, Exod. 25:38; 35:14.
16 Namely, the candlestick.
10And they shall put it and all the vessels thereof within a covering of badgers' skins, and shall put it 17upon a bar.
17 Understand an instrument of staves to which something might be hung to be transported from one place to another. Compare verse 12 and Num. 13:23. Other, planks, or, bearing, supporting boards.
11And upon the 18golden altar they shall spread a cloth of blue, and cover it with a covering of badgers' skins, and shall put to the staves thereof:
18 Understand the altar of incense, which stood in the holy place, and was overlaid with gold. See Exod. 30:3, 4.
12And they shall take all the 19instruments of ministry, wherewith they minister in the sanctuary, and put them in a cloth of blue, and cover them with a covering of badgers' skins, and shall put them on a bar:
19 Understand hereby all the holy vestments wherein the priests were to officiate; whereof see Exod. 31:10; 35:19; 39:1, 41, where they are likewise called the cloths of service. Among these some do likewise comprehend all manner of vessels and utensils of the tabernacle. Whereof see Exod. 25:29; 27:3; 2 Kings 25:14, 15.
13And they shall take away the ashes 20from the altar, and spread a purple cloth thereon:
20 Namely, from the altar of the burnt offerings.
14And they shall put upon it all 21the vessels thereof, wherewith they minister about it, even the censers, the fleshhooks, and the shovels, and the basons, all the vessels of the altar; and they shall spread upon it a covering of badgers' skins, and put to the staves of it.
21 Whereof see Exod. 27:3, etc.
15And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the vessels of the sanctuary, as the camp is to set forward; after that, 22the sons of Kohath shall come 23to bear it: but they shall 24not touch any holy thing, 25lest they die. These things are the 26burden of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation.
22 Later on, the priests, after having been increased in numbers, did also carry these things. See Deut. 31:9; Joshua 3:6; 8:33; 1 Sam. 4:4; 1 Chron. 15:11, 12. Though it seems that Levites were not altogether excluded, 2 Chron. 5:5.
23 Namely, upon their own shoulders, see Num. 7:9, and not upon wagons, which order the Israelites observed not in 2 Sam. 6:3, 6, 7; 1 Chron. 13:7; 15:12, 13, 14, 15.
24 See verse 20.
25 See 1 Sam. 6:19 what punishment lighted upon the Beth-shemites for having seen the ark of the LORD, and 2 Sam. 6:6, 7 what befell Uzzah for touching the ark of the Lord.
26 That is, for which they are to take care and to carry.
16¶And to the office of Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest pertaineth the oil for the light, and the sweetd incense, and the 27daily meat offering, and thee anointing oil, and the oversight of all the tabernacle, and of all that therein is, in the sanctuary, and in the vessels thereof.
d Exod. 30:34, 35.
27 Which was offered every morning and evening. See hereof Exod. 29:38, 39.
e Exod. 30:23, 24, etc.
17¶And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,
1828Cut ye not off the tribe of the families of the Kohathites from among the Levites:
28 Namely, by My righteous judgment, when by your heedlessness and carelessness, ye should cause to find the holy things to be uncovered in the sight of the Kohathites, who, seeing them and laying hold on them or only toughing them, might come to die for it by the hand of the LORD.
19But thus do unto them, that they may live, and not die, when they approach unto the most holy things: Aaron and his sons shall go in, and 29appoint them 30every one to his service and to his burden:
29 Namely, appointing and ordering every one of them what he must carry.
30 Hebr. man, man. Also verse 49. See Lev. 15 on verse 2.
20But they shall not go in to see when the holy things are covered, 31lest they die.
31 Namely, in such a manner as happened unto the two sons of Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Lev. 10:1 and yet upon another unto Korah and his company, Num. 16:32, 33, etc.
21¶And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
22Take also the sum of the sons of Gershon, throughout the houses of their fathers, by their families;
2332From thirty years old and upward until fifty years old shalt thou number them; all that enter in to perform 33the service, to do the work in the tabernacle of the congregation.
32 Hebr. from a son of thirty year, and so in the sequel. See likewise of this numbering Num. 3 on verse 15.
33 See the annotation on verse 3. Other, for to gather (or) assemble in the host. Compare Exod. 38:8.
24This is the service of the families of the Gershonites, to serve, and for 34burdens:
34 See on verse 15.
25And they shall bear the curtains of the tabernacle, and the 35tabernacle of the congregation, his covering, and the 36covering of the badgers' skins that is above upon it, and the 37hanging for the door of the tabernacle of the congregation,
35 Understand the curtains made of goats’ hair, and covering the entire tent; for, the Merarites were to carry its planks and pillars, etc., verse 31.
36 Hebr. the cover of the badger, that is, of the badgers-skins.
37 Understand the tapestry or hangings which hung at the door of the tabernacle between the court and the holy place.
26And the hangings of the court, and the hanging for the door of the gate of the court, which is by the tabernacle and by the altar round about, and their cords, and all the instruments of their service, and all that is made for them: so shall they serve.
27At 38the appointment of Aaron and his sons shall be all the service of the sons of the Gershonites, in all their burdens, and in all their service: and ye shall appoint unto them in charge all their burdens.
38 Hebr. the mouth. See Gen. 41 on verse 40. Also here verses 37, 41, 45, 49.
28This is the service of the families of the sons of Gershon in the tabernacle of the congregation: and their 39charge shall be 40under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.
39 That is, their charge and service of which they must be very attentive, that they may execute the same faithfully in all parts thereof.
40 That is, under the inspection, direction and governance of Ithamar, who had to supervise that everyone faithfully discharged his office. Also verse 33. Likewise Num. 31:49; Lev. 8:36.
29¶As for the sons of Merari, thou shalt number them after their families, by the house of their fathers;
30From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old shalt thou number them, 41every one that entereth into the service, to do the work of the tabernacle of the congregation.
41 See on verse 3.
31And this is the charge of their burden, according to all their service in the tabernacle of the congregation; thef boards of the tabernacle, and the bars thereof, and the pillars thereof, and 42sockets thereof,
f Exod. 26:15.
42 Namely, on which the pillars stood, and of which were made an hundred in number, each one of a talent of silver. See Exod. 38:27.
32And the pillars of the court round about, and their sockets, and their pins, and their 43cords, with all their instruments, and with all their service: and 44by name ye shall reckon the instruments of the charge of their burden.
43 Understand the cords of the pillars of the court; as the Gershonites carried the cords and the ropes of the hangings of the court, and the covering of the door of the gate of the court. See verse 26 and Num. 3:26.
44 That is, thou shalt count and deliver them piece by piece into their hands, keeping a register of it, that nothing may be lost.
33This is the service of the families of the sons of Merari, according to all their service, in the tabernacle of the congregation, under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.
34¶And Moses and Aaron and the chief of the congregation numbered the sons of the Kohathites after their families, and after the house of their fathers,
35From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every one that entereth into the service, for the work in the tabernacle of the congregation:
36And those that were numbered of them by their families were two thousand seven hundred and fifty.
37These were they that were numbered of the families of the Kohathites, all that might do service in the tabernacle of the congregation, which Moses and Aaron did number according to the commandment of the LORD 45by the hand of Moses.
45 See on verse 28, and also in the sequel.
38And those that were numbered of the sons of Gershon, throughout their families, and by the house of their fathers,
39From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every one that entereth into the service, for the work in the tabernacle of the congregation,
40Even those that were numbered of them, throughout their families, by the house of their fathers, were two thousand and six hundred and thirty.
41These are they that were numbered of the families of the sons of Gershon, of all that might do service in the tabernacle of the congregation, whom Moses and Aaron did number according to the commandment of the LORD.
42¶And those that were numbered of the families of the sons of Merari, throughout their families, by the house of their fathers,
43From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every one that entereth into the service, for the work in the tabernacle of the congregation,
44Even those that were numbered of them after their families, were 46three thousand and two hundred.
46 When one compares this verse 44 with the verses 36 and 40, it appears that among the Levites, who were suitable for the service of the tabernacle, the Merarites were the most in number, although they were the least in their general account or total number. See the annotation at Num. 3 on verse 39. This happened thus by the all-wise providence of God. The Merarites, having the heaviest burden to carry, required more in number stronger middle-aged men than the Kohathites and the Gershonites. Compare the annotation at Num. 3 on verse 36.
45These be those that 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.
46All those that were numbered of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron and the chief of Israel numbered, after their families, and after the house of their fathers,
47From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every one that came 47to do the service of the ministry, and the service of the burden in the tabernacle of the congregation,
47 That is, to serve and to assist the priests who administered the service of the tabernacle; for, the common Levites were only to be subservient unto the priests in their office.
48Even those that were numbered of them, were eight thousand and five hundred and fourscore.
49According to the commandment of the LORD they were numbered by the hand of Moses, every one according to his service, and according to his burden: thus were they numbered of him, 48as the LORD commanded Moses.
48 Or, as the LORD had commanded Moses.