Numbers 4:14

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. ¹ 

Numbers 4:1

The Service of the Kohathites

4:1 ² Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron:

Numbers 7:40

7:40 one male goat for a purification offering;

Numbers 7:45

7:45 one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb in its first year, for a burnt offering;

Numbers 7:2

7:2 Then the leaders of Israel, the heads of their clans, ³  made an offering. They were the leaders of the tribes; they were the ones who had been supervising ⁴  the numbering.

Numbers 4:11

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.

Numbers 4:16

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 ⁵  the appointed responsibility over all the tabernacle with ⁶  all that is in it, over the sanctuary and over all its furnishings.” ⁷ 

¹ tc For this passage the Greek and Smr have a substantial addition concerning the purple cloth for the laver and its base, and a further covering of skin (see D. W. Gooding, “On the Use of the LXX for Dating Midrashic Elements in the Targums,” JTS 25 [1974]: 1-11).

² sn The chapter has four main parts to it: Kohathites (1-20), Gershonites (21-28), Merarites (29-33) and the census of the Levites (34-49).

³ tn Heb “the house of their fathers.”

⁴ tn The form is the Qal active participle from the verb “to stand” (עָמַד, ’amad). The form describes these leaders as “the ones standing over [the ones numbered].” The expression, along with the clear indication of the first census in chapter 1, shows that this was a supervisory capacity.

⁵ tn This is supplied to the line to clarify “appointed.”

⁶ tn Heb “and.”

⁷ sn One would assume that he would prepare and wrap these items, but that the Kohathites would carry them to the next place.