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Texts -- Numbers 4:1-45 (NET)

Context
The Service of the Kohathites
4:1 Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron : 4:2 “Take a census of the Kohathites from among the Levites , by their families and by their clans , 4:3 from thirty years old and upward to fifty years old , all who enter the company to do the work in the tent of meeting . 4:4 This is the service of the Kohathites in the tent of meeting , relating to the most holy things . 4:5 When it is time for the camp to journey , Aaron and his sons must come and take down the screening curtain and cover the ark of the testimony with it. 4:6 Then they must put over it a covering of fine leather and spread over that a cloth entirely of blue , and then they must insert its poles . 4:7 “On the table of the presence they must spread a blue cloth , and put on it the dishes , the pans , the bowls , and the pitchers for pouring , and the Bread of the Presence must be on it continually . 4:8 They must spread over them a scarlet cloth , and cover the same with a covering of fine leather ; and they must insert its poles . 4:9 “They must 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. 4:10 Then they must put it with all its utensils in a covering of fine leather , and put it on a carrying beam . 4:11 “They must spread a blue cloth on the gold altar , and cover it with a covering of fine leather ; and they must insert its poles . 4:12 Then they must take all the utensils of the service , with which they serve in the sanctuary , put them in a blue cloth , cover them with a covering of fine leather , and put them on a carrying beam . 4:13 Also, they must take away the ashes from the altar and spread a purple cloth over it. 4:14 Then they must place on it all its implements with which they serve there– the trays , the meat forks , the shovels , the basins , and all the utensils of the altar – and they must spread on it a covering of fine leather , and then insert its poles . 4:15 “When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the sanctuary and all the furnishings of the sanctuary , when the camp is ready to journey , then the Kohathites will come to carry them; but they must not touch any holy thing , or they will die . These are the responsibilities of the Kohathites with the tent of meeting . 4:16 “The appointed responsibility of Eleazar son of Aaron the priest is for the oil for the light , and the spiced incense , and the daily grain offering , and the anointing oil ; he also has the appointed responsibility over all the tabernacle with all that is in it, over the sanctuary and over all its furnishings .” 4:17 Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron : 4:18 “Do not allow the tribe of the families of the Kohathites to be cut off from among the Levites ; 4:19 but in order that they will live and not die when they approach the most holy things , do this for them: Aaron and his sons will go in and appoint each man to his service and his responsibility . 4:20 But the Kohathites are not to go in to watch while the holy things are being covered , or they will die .”
The Service of the Gershonites
4:21 Then the Lord spoke to Moses : 4:22 “Also take a census of the Gershonites , by their clans and by their families . 4:23 You must number them from thirty years old and upward to fifty years old , all who enter the company to do the work of the tent of meeting . 4:24 This is the service of the families of Gershonites , as they serve and carry it. 4:25 They must carry the curtains for the tabernacle and the tent of meeting with its covering , the covering of fine leather that is over it, the curtains for the entrance of the tent of meeting , 4:26 the hangings for the courtyard , the curtain for the entrance of the gate of the court , which is around the tabernacle and the altar , and their ropes , along with all the furnishings for their service and everything that is made for them. So they are to serve . 4:27 “All the service of the Gershonites , whether carrying loads or for any of their work , will be at the direction of Aaron and his sons . You will assign them all their tasks as their responsibility . 4:28 This is the service of the families of the Gershonites concerning the tent of meeting . Their responsibilities will be under the authority of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest .
The Service of the Merarites
4:29 “As for the sons of Merari , you are to number them by their families and by their clans . 4:30 You must number them from thirty years old and upward to fifty years old , all who enter the company to do the work of the tent of meeting . 4:31 This is what they are responsible to carry as their entire service in the tent of meeting : the frames of the tabernacle , its crossbars , its posts , its sockets , 4:32 and the posts of the surrounding courtyard with their sockets , tent pegs , and ropes , along with all their furnishings and everything for their service . You are to assign by names the items that each man is responsible to carry . 4:33 This is the service of the families of the Merarites , their entire service concerning the tent of meeting , under the authority of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest .”
Summary
4:34 So Moses and Aaron and the leaders of the community numbered the Kohathites by their families and by clans , 4:35 from thirty years old and upward to fifty years old , everyone who entered the company for the work in the tent of meeting ; 4:36 and those of them numbered by their families were 2,750 . 4:37 These were those numbered from the families of the Kohathites , everyone who served in the tent of meeting , whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the word of the Lord by the authority of Moses . 4:38 Those numbered from the Gershonites , by their families and by their clans , 4:39 from thirty years old and upward to fifty years old , everyone who entered the company for the work in the tent of meeting – 4:40 those of them numbered by their families , by their clans , were 2,630 . 4:41 These were those numbered from the families of the Gershonites , everyone who served in the tent of meeting , whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the word of the Lord . 4:42 Those numbered from the families of the Merarites , by their families , by their clans , 4:43 from thirty years old and upward to fifty years old , everyone who entered the company for the work in the tent of meeting – 4:44 those of them numbered by their families were 3,200 . 4:45 These are those numbered from the families of the Merarites , whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the word of the Lord by the authority of Moses .

Pericope

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Bible Dictionary

  • Levites

    [smith] (descendants of Levi). Sometimes the name extends to the whole tribe, the priests included, (Exodus 6:25; Leviticus 25:32; Numbers 35:2; Joshua 21:3,41) etc; sometimes only to those members of the tribe who were not priests, ...
    [nave] LEVITES The descendants of Levi. Set apart as ministers of religion, Num. 1:47-54; 3:6-16; 16:9; 26:57-62; Deut. 10:8; 1 Chr. 15:2. Substituted in the place of the firstborn, Num. 3:12, 41-45; 8:14, 16-18; 18:6. Religious ...

  • Kohathites

    [ebd] the descendants of Kohath. They formed the first of the three divisions of the Levites (Ex. 6:16, 18; Num. 3:17). In the journeyings of the Israelites they had the charge of the most holy portion of the vessels of the tabern...

  • PRIESTS AND LEVITES

    [isbe] PRIESTS AND LEVITES - (kohen, "priest"; nothing is definitely known as to the origin of the word; Lewi, "Levite," on which see LEVI): I. DIFFERENT VIEWS OF THE HISTORY 1. The Old View 2. The Graf-Wellhausen View 3. Mediating...

  • David

    [ebd] beloved, the eighth and youngest son of Jesse, a citizen of Bethlehem. His father seems to have been a man in humble life. His mother's name is not recorded. Some think she was the Nahash of 2 Sam. 17:25. As to his personal ...

  • EXODUS, THE BOOK OF, 3-4

    [isbe] EXODUS, THE BOOK OF, 3-4 - III. Historical Character. 1. General Consideration: The fact that extra-Israelitish and especially Egyptian sources that can lay claim to historical value have reported nothing authentic concernin...

  • Tabernacle

    [nave] TABERNACLE One existed before Moses received the pattern authorized on Mount Sinai, Ex. 33:7-11. The one instituted by Moses was called Sanctuary, Ex. 25:8; Tabernacle, Ex. 27:21; 33:7; 2 Chr. 5:5; of Testimony, Ex. 38:21; ...

  • Priest

    [smith] The English word is derived from the Greek presbyter , signifying an "elder" (Heb. cohen). Origin. --The idea of a priesthood connects itself in all its forms, pure or corrupted, with the consciousness, more or less distinct ...
    [nave] PRIEST. Before Moses Melchizedek, Gen. 14:18; Heb. 5:6, 10, 11; 6:20; 7:1-21. Jethro, Ex. 2:16. Priests in Israel before the giving of the law, Ex. 19:22, 24. Called angel, Eccl. 5:6. Mosaic Ex. 28:1-4; 29:9, 44; Num....

  • Ithamar

    [isbe] ITHAMAR - ith'-a-mar ('ithamar, "land" or "island of palms": Gesenius; or "father of Tamar," 'i, being perhaps for 'abhi: Cook in Encyclopedia Biblica--though both derivations are uncertain): The 4th son of Aaron (Ex 6:23; 2...
    [smith] (land of palms), the youngest son of Aaron. (Exodus 6:23) (B.C. 1491.) After the death of Nadab and Abihu, (Leviticus 10:1) Eleazar and Ithamar were appointed to succeed to their places in the priestly office. (Exodus 28:1,40...
    [nave] ITHAMAR Son of Aaron, Ex. 6:23; 28:1; 1 Chr. 6:3. Intrusted with moneys of the tabernacle, Ex. 38:21. Charged with duties of the tabernacle, Num. 4:28; 7:8. Forbidden to lament the death of his brothers, Nadab and Abihu, ...

  • Altar

    [ebd] (Heb. mizbe'ah, from a word meaning "to slay"), any structure of earth (Ex. 20:24) or unwrought stone (20:25) on which sacrifices were offered. Altars were generally erected in conspicuous places (Gen. 22:9; Ezek. 6:3; 2 Kin...
    [nave] ALTAR Built by Noah, Gen. 8:20; Abraham, Gen. 12:7, 8; 13:18; 22:9; Isaac, Gen. 26:25; Jacob, Gen. 33:20; 35:1-7; Moses, Ex. 17:15; 24:4; Balaam, Num. 23:1, 14, 29; Joshua, Deut. 27:4-7; Josh. 8:30-32; Reubenites and Gadites...

  • Colors

    [nave] COLORS Symbolical uses of. Black A Symbol of Affliction and Calamity. Job 3:5; Job 10:20-22; Job 30:26; Psa. 107:10, 11; Psa. 143:3; Isa. 5:30; Isa. 8:22; Isa. 9:19; Isa. 24:11; Isa. 50:3; Joel 2:6, 10; Joel 3:14, 15; Amos...

  • MERARI

    [isbe] MERARI - me-ra'-ri (merari, "bitter"; Mararei): (1) The 3rd son of Levi, his brothers, Gershon and Kohath, being always mentioned together with him (Gen 46:11; Ex 6:16 ff). He was among those 70 who went down to Egypt with J...

  • Skin

    [isbe] SKIN - (`or, geledh, "human skin" (Job 16:15), basar, "flesh," in the sense of "nakedness" (Ps 102:5 the King James Version); derma): Literal: The word `or designates the skin of both men and animals, the latter both raw and...
    [nave] SKIN Clothes of, Gen. 3:21. For covering the tabernacle, Ex. 25:5; Num. 4:8-14. Diseases of, Lev. 13:38, 39; Deut. 28:27; Job 7:5. See: Boils; Leprosy.

  • Badger

    [ebd] this word is found in Ex. 25:5; 26:14; 35:7, 23; 36:19; 39:34; Num. 4:6, etc. The tabernacle was covered with badgers' skins; the shoes of women were also made of them (Ezek. 16:10). Our translators seem to have been misled ...
    [nave] BADGER Skins of, used for covering of tabernacle, Ex. 25:5; 26:14; 35:7, 23; 36:19; 39:34; Num. 4:6, 8, 10, 11, 12, 14, 25. For sandals, Ezek. 16:10.

  • Gershon

    [nave] GERSHON, called also Gershom. Son of Levi, Gen. 46:11; Ex. 6:16, 17; Num. 3:17-26; 4:22-28, 38; 7:7; 10:17; 26:57; Josh. 21:6; 1 Chr. 6:1, 16, 17, 20, 43, 62, 71; 15:7; 23:6.

  • Ark

    [ebd] Noah's ark, a building of gopher-wood, and covered with pitch, 300 cubits long, 50 cubits broad, and 30 cubits high (Gen. 6:14-16); an oblong floating house of three stories, with a door in the side and a window in the roof....
    [nave] ARK 1. Noah's. Directions for building of, Gen. 6:14-16. Noah and family preserved in, Gen. 6:18; 7:8; Matt. 24:38; Heb. 11:7; 1 Pet. 3:20. Animals saved in, Gen. 6:19, 20; 7:1-16. 2. Of Bulrushes, Ex. 2:3. 3. In the Tab...

  • Skin, Coats made of

    [ebd] (Gen. 3:21). Skins of rams and badgers were used as a covering for the tabernacle (Ex. 25:5; Num. 4:8-14).

  • PORPOISE

    [isbe] PORPOISE - por'-pus (the Revised Version margin has "porpoise-skin" for `or tachash, the Revised Version (British and American) "sealskin," the King James Version "badgers' skins" (Ex 25:5; 26:14; 35:7,23; 36:19; 39:34; Nu 4...

  • Blue

    [ebd] generally associated with purple (Ex. 25:4; 26:1, 31, 36, etc.). It is supposed to have been obtained from a shellfish of the Mediterranean, the Helix ianthina of Linnaeus. The robe of the high priest's ephod was to be all o...

  • Merarites

    [ebd] the descendants of Merari (Num. 26:57). They with the Gershonites and the Kohathites had charge of the tabernacle, which they had to carry from place to place (Num. 3:20, 33-37; 4:29-33). In the distribution of the oxen and ...

  • Levite

    [ebd] a descendant of the tribe of Levi (Ex. 6:25; Lev. 25:32; Num. 35:2; Josh. 21:3, 41). This name is, however, generally used as the title of that portion of the tribe which was set apart for the subordinate offices of the sanc...
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Arts

Questions

  • The account in Num. 20 very clearly shows that Moses disobeyed the divine command in striking the rock as he did. For the moment he apparently lost his faith, and his temper as well. He had been explicitly instructed to "spea...
  • The Ark of the Covenant was definitely real and was a part of the tabernacle, being placed in the Holy of Holies behind the curtain. I will include articles below from three Bible Dictionaries that will give you some informat...

Sermon Illustrations

The Structure of the Tabernacle

Resources/Books

Expository Notes on the Bible (Constable)

  • The title the Jews used in their Hebrew Old Testament for this book comes from the fifth word in the book in the Hebrew text, bemidbar: "in the wilderness."This is, of course, appropriate since the Israelites spent most of th...
  • To formulate a statement that summarizes the teaching of this book it will be helpful to identify some of the major revelations in Numbers. These constitute the unique values of the book.The first major value of Numbers is th...
  • I. Experiences of the older generation in the wilderness chs. 1-25A. Preparations for entering the Promised Land from the south chs. 1-101. The first census and the organization of the people chs. 1-42. Commands and rituals t...
  • The first 10 chapters in Numbers describe Israel's preparation for entering the land.". . . just as the way from Goshen to Sinai was a preparation of the chosen people for their reception into the covenant with God, so the wa...
  • Note the recurrance of a key word in the Pentateuch in verse l: toledot."For the first time after the formative events of the Exodus deliverance and the revelation on Mount Sinai, the people of Israel are organized into a hol...
  • Moses did not arrange the three Levitical families in the text here in the order of the ages of their founders. He arranged them in the order of the holiness of the articles that they managed.The Kohathites--who included Mose...
  • The consecration of the priests had taken place earlier (cf. Lev. 8). Then the people only looked on (Lev. 8:3-4). On the present occasion God set apart to His service the whole tribe of Levi that He had taken in place of the...
  • Before going into battle against the Midianites as God commanded (25:18), the Lord directed Moses to take another census of the Israelites. Evidently the 24,000 who died in the recent plague (25:9) were the last of the genera...
  • "Just as the censuses of chs. 1, 3, and 4 led to a flurry of preparations for departure from Sinai, so the second censuses in ch. 26 lead to preparations for departure from the plains of Moab and entry into the land of Canaan...
  • Bethshemesh was the closest Israelite town to Ekron. It stood about 12 miles east-southeast of Ekron. To get there the cows walked east up the Sorek Valley, Samson's home area. Evidently the Israelites who were reaping their ...
  • Not all the people who later assembled to see the ark were as careful as those from Bethshemesh, however. The Mosaic Law specified that no one was to look into the ark or that person would die (Num. 4:5, 20; cf. 2 Sam. 6:6-7)...
  • In 1004 B.C. David became king of all Israel and Judah.50This was his third anointing (cf. 1 Sam. 16:13; 2 Sam. 2:4). The people acknowledged David's previous military leadership of all Israel as well as God's choice of him t...
  • Baale-judah (v. 2) may have been the later name of Kiriath-jearim (cf. Josh. 15:9-10).76This was where the ark had evidently rested since the Israelites had moved it from Bethshemesh in Samuel's days (1 Sam. 6; cf. Ps. 132:6-...
  • The lesson the writer intended this incident to teach the readers is that Yahweh is holy and His people should not take His presence among them lightly (cf. Lev. 10:1-11; Num. 16). God's presence is real, and His people must ...
  • Verses 1 and 2 of chapter 23 provide an outline for what follows in chapters 23-27 but in reverse order. After David appointed Solomon as his coregent in 973 B.C., he began the preparations the writer described here.David ada...
  • As Solomon had done, these Jews contracted with the Phoenicians to the north to supply wood for the temple (cf. 2 Chron. 2:16). The people needed several months of preparations before actual construction began on the site in ...
  • "The setting of the Mesopotamian dream-visions--which occurred in both the Assyrian period and the Babylonian period . . . --consisted of four elements: (1) the date, (2) the place of reception, (3) the recipient, and (4) the...
  • Why did Luke place his genealogy of Jesus at this point in his Gospel? Probably he did so because this was the beginning of Jesus' public ministry. Matthew recorded Jesus' genealogy to show that He had a legitimate right by b...
  • 8:48 Since the Jews could not refute Jesus' challenge they resorted to verbal abuse (cf. 7:52). Perhaps they called Him a Samaritan because He had questioned their ties to Abraham. This may have been a Samaritan attack agains...

Expositions Of Holy Scripture (Maclaren)

  • "All that enter in to perform the service, to do the work in the tabernacle."Num. 4:23.THESE words occur in the series of regulations as to the functions of the Levites in the Tabernacle worship. The words to perform the serv...
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