Numbers 2:17

The Tribe in the Center

2:17 “Then the tent of meeting with the camp of the Levites will travel in the middle of the camps. They will travel in the same order as they camped, each in his own place ¹  under his standard.

Numbers 2:34

2:34 So the Israelites did according to all that the Lord commanded Moses; that is the way ²  they camped under their standards, and that is the way they traveled, each with his clan and family.

Numbers 4:32

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. ³ 

Numbers 7:5

7:5 “Receive these gifts ⁴  from them, that they may be ⁵  used in doing the work ⁶  of the tent of meeting; and you must give them to the Levites, to every man ⁷  as his service requires.” ⁸ 

¹ tn The Hebrew expression is עַל־יָדוֹ (’al-yado, “upon his hand”). This clearly refers to a specifically designated place for each man.

² tn The Hebrew word is כֵּן (ken, “thus, so”).

³ tn Heb “you shall assign by names the vessels of the responsibility of their burden.”

⁴ tn The object is not in the Hebrew text, but has been supplied.

⁵ tn The verb is the perfect tense with vav (ו) consecutive; following the imperative, this could be given an independent volitive translation (“they shall be”), but more fittingly a subordinated translation expressing the purpose of receiving the gifts.

⁶ tn The sentence uses the infinitive construct expressing purpose, followed by its cognate accusative: “[that they may be] for doing the work of” (literally, “serving the service of”).

⁷ tn The noun אִישׁ (’ish) is in apposition to the word “Levites,” and is to be taken in a distributive sense: “to the Levites, [to each] man according to his service.”

⁸ tn The expression כְּפִי (kÿfi) is “according to the mouth of.” Here, it would say “according to the mouth of his service,” which would mean “what his service calls for.”