Numbers 4

The LORD spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying,

“Take a census of the sons of Kohath from among the sons of Levi, by their families, by their fathers’ houses,

from thirty years old and upward even until fifty years old, all who enter into the service to do the work in the Tent of Meeting.

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 3. Thirty. Moses speaks of those who had to carry the sacred vessels. Those of 25 years old might perform some offices; (Calmet. 8:24,) and even at 20, they began to serve the tabernacle, in the reign of David, (1 Chronicles 23:24,) the fatigue being then diminished, and the splendour of religion increasing. The Septuagint read 25 instead of 30, in this and all other places, and some think that the Hebrew should be so too. The time for the admission of priests to their more august functions is not specified, but was determined by themselves to be at least 20 years of age. Outram, Sacrif. i. 7.—To stand. This was the ordinary posture of the priests in the temple. The king alone was allowed to sit. Maimonides.—Hebrew “all that enter into the host, or army, to do the work in the tabernacle of the assembly,” shall be of a competent age and strength. Bible.

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4

“This is the service of the sons of Kohath in the Tent of Meeting, regarding the most holy things.

5

When the camp moves forward, Aaron shall go in with his sons; and they shall take down the veil of the screen, cover the ark of the Testimony with it,

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 5. Sons. Necessity excused them on this occasion. Out of respect for the ark, the Levites were not allowed to behold or touch it uncovered. Calmet.—That hangeth before the door. Hebrew “the covering veil, and shall,” and so forth Bible.

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6

put a covering of sealskin on it, spread a blue cloth over it, and put in its poles.

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 6. Put in the bars. Hebrew “place the bars,” upon the shoulders of the Levites; for they were never taken out of the sides of the ark. Exodus 25:15. Other bars, like hand-barrows, were used to carry the ark and the other different vessels, after they were folded up. Two Levites bore them on their shoulders. Calmet.—Perhaps the bars of the ark, after it was enveloped with the three curtains, might project, so that the bearers might take hold of them. Menochius.

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7

“On the table of show bread they shall spread a blue cloth, and put on it the dishes, the spoons, the bowls, and the cups with which to pour out; and the continual bread shall be on it.

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 7. Loaves. Some imagine this precept was not observed in the desert, as the people fed on manna. But might not they procure some flour of the neighbouring nations? and do not the princes offer flour. Calmet. 7? See Deuteronomy 12:7. Calmet.

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8

They shall spread on them a scarlet cloth, and cover it with a covering of sealskin, and shall put in its poles.

9

“They shall take a blue cloth and cover the lamp stand of the light, its lamps, its snuffers, its snuff dishes, and all its oil vessels, with which they minister to it.

10

They shall put it and all its vessels within a covering of sealskin, and shall put it on the frame.

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 10. The bars, which were not attached to it. Exodus 25:37. Hebrew and Septuagint “They shall place it upon the bars.” Mot, signifies a stick, upon which two people may carry burdens. Calmet. 13:24. It might be put through the foldings, verse 12.

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11

“On the golden altar they shall spread a blue cloth, and cover it with a covering of sealskin, and shall put in its poles.

12

“They shall take all the vessels of ministry with which they minister in the sanctuary, and put them in a blue cloth, cover them with a covering of sealskin, and shall put them on the frame.

13

“They shall take away the ashes from the altar, and spread a purple cloth on it.

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 13. Ashes, which might be upon the grate of the altar, where the sacred fire had been burning. This shews that the precept was already observed. The Septuagint do not mention the ashes. But some copies, with Origen, (hom. iv.) and the Samar. Pentateuch, insert some words at the end of verse 14, which Grotius believes have been omitted by the Massorets, in the present Hebrew Bibles. “They shall take a purple veil, and fold up the laver and its foot, and put them in a covering of violet skins, and place them upon the bars.” Calmet.—The children of Caath were the most honoured among the Levites, as Moses and Aaron sprung from the same family, Eleazar, the future pontiff, presided over them in a particular manner, while his younger brother Ithamar, directed the rest. Bible.

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14

They shall put on it all its vessels with which they minister about it, the fire pans, the meat hooks, the shovels, and the basins—all the vessels of the altar; and they shall spread on it a covering of sealskin, and put in its poles.

15

“When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the sanctuary and all the furniture of the sanctuary, as the camp moves forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to carry it; but they shall not touch the sanctuary, lest they die. The sons of Kohath shall carry these things belonging to the Tent of Meeting.

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 15. Vessels of, and so forth Some say, not even their coverings. God threatens to punish all idle curiosity or negligence, particularly with respect to the ark, which the Caathites had to carry, till the priests became sufficiently numerous to perform that office, as they generally did. Deuteronomy 31:9. Calmet.

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16

“The duty of Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest shall be the oil for the light, the sweet incense, the continual meal offering, and the anointing oil, the requirements of all the tabernacle, and of all that is in it, the sanctuary, and its furnishings.”

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 16. Over them. The sons of Caath, to whose care the more sacred things were entrusted; or Hebrew “over the oil,” and so forth—Sacrifice of flour, wine, and so forth These always accompanied the morning and evening holocaust. It hence appears that this law was already in force, and probably all such precepts were observed as were not incompatible with the wandering state of the Hebrews. Calmet.

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17

The LORD spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying,

18

“Don’t cut off the tribe of the families of the Kohathites from among the Levites;

19

but do this 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 everyone to his service and to his burden;

20

but they shall not go in to see the sanctuary even for a moment, lest they die.”

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 20. Curiosity. Septuagint “suddenly.” Let them not rush in before all the vessels be properly covered. The priests folded them up with all haste, that they might see them as little as possible themselves. Calmet.

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21

The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

22

“Take a census of the sons of Gershon also, by their fathers’ houses, by their families;

23

you shall count them from thirty years old and upward until fifty years old: all who enter in to wait on the service, to do the work in the Tent of Meeting.

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 23. Thirty. Septuagint “25,” as verse 3. Calmet.—They began to be taught how to act, at 25; but did not officiate till 30. D.

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24

“This is the service of the families of the Gershonites, in serving and in bearing burdens:

25

they shall carry the curtains of the tabernacle and the Tent of Meeting, its covering, the covering of sealskin that is on it, the screen for the door of the Tent of Meeting,

26

the hangings of the court, the screen for the door of the gate of the court which is by the tabernacle and around the altar, their cords, and all the instruments of their service, and whatever shall be done with them. They shall serve in there.

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 26. All things. Hebrew “veils round the altar” of holocausts in the court. Calmet.

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27

At the commandment of Aaron and his sons shall be all the service of the sons of the Gershonites, in all their burden and in all their service; and you shall appoint their duty to them in all their responsibilities.

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 27. Assigned. Hebrew “you shall count over to them what they have to carry.” Septuagint “you shall call (the Levites) by name, and all that shall be intrusted to them,” verse 32. Calmet.—From the different offices of the priests and Levites in the old law, Innocent III. takes occasion to shew the distinction of the orders in the Christian Church. De S. Altar. 2. ad 7.

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28

This is the service of the families of the sons of the Gershonites in the Tent of Meeting. Their duty shall be under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.

29

“As for the sons of Merari, you shall count them by their families, by their fathers’ houses;

30

you shall count them from thirty years old and upward even to fifty years old—everyone who enters on the service, to do the work of the Tent of Meeting.

31

This is the duty of their burden, according to all their service in the Tent of Meeting: the tabernacle’s boards, its bars, its pillars, its sockets,

32

the pillars of the court around it, their sockets, their pins, their cords, with all their instruments, and with all their service. You shall appoint the instruments of the duty of their burden to them by name.

33

This is the service of the families of the sons of Merari, according to all their service in the Tent of Meeting, under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.”

34

Moses and Aaron and the princes of the congregation counted the sons of the Kohathites by their families, and by their fathers’ houses,

35

from thirty years old and upward even to fifty years old, everyone who entered into the service for work in the Tent of Meeting.

36

Those who were counted of them by their families were two thousand seven hundred fifty.

37

These are those who were counted of the families of the Kohathites, all who served in the Tent of Meeting, whom Moses and Aaron counted according to the commandment of the LORD by Moses.

38

Those who were counted of the sons of Gershon, by their families, and by their fathers’ houses,

39

from thirty years old and upward even to fifty years old—everyone who entered into the service for work in the Tent of Meeting,

40

even those who were counted of them, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, were two thousand six hundred thirty.

41

These are those who were counted of the families of the sons of Gershon, all who served in the Tent of Meeting, whom Moses and Aaron counted according to the commandment of the LORD.

42

Those who were counted of the families of the sons of Merari, by their families, by their fathers’ houses,

43

from thirty years old and upward even to fifty years old—everyone who entered into the service for work in the Tent of Meeting,

44

even those who were counted of them by their families, were three thousand two hundred.

45

These are those who were counted of the families of the sons of Merari, whom Moses and Aaron counted according to the commandment of the LORD by Moses.

46

All those who were counted of the Levites whom Moses and Aaron and the princes of Israel counted, by their families and by their fathers’ houses,

47

from thirty years old and upward even to fifty years old, everyone who entered in to do the work of service and the work of bearing burdens in the Tent of Meeting,

48

even those who were counted of them, were eight thousand five hundred eighty.

49

According to the commandment of the LORD they were counted by Moses, everyone according to his service and according to his burden. Thus they were counted by him, as the LORD commanded Moses.