Numbers 4

1 Then the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] said [to speak, communicate, or command] to Moses [the Israelite leader, born to Amram and Jochebed] and Aaron [the brother of Moses, the first high priest of the Israelites], word study 2 “Take a census [count, sum, or number] of the Kohathites [descendants of Kohath, a son of Levi] among the Levites [the tribe of Levi, from whom priests were chosen] by their clans [families, or households] and families [tribal groups, or houses of their fathers], word study 3 men from thirty [a son of thirty years, from the age of maturity] to fifty [a son of fifty years, a season of life] years old—everyone [all that enter into the host, every qualified individual] who is qualified [entitled, able] to serve [to do the work, to minister] in the work [the service, the ministry] at the Tent [the tabernacle, the place of meeting] of Meeting [the appointed place, the sacred assembly]. word study 4 This [specific, particular] service [work, ministry] of the Kohathites [descendants of Kohath, a Levitical family] at the Tent [tabernacle, sacred dwelling] of Meeting [appointed gathering, sacred season] regards [concerns, is about] the most [extremely, supremely] holy [set-apart, sacred] things [items, objects]. word study 5 Whenever the camp [the Israelites’ encampments, a group of people] sets out [to set out, start a journey, remove], Aaron [the brother of Moses, the first high priest] and his sons [descendants, a nation] are to go in [enter, approach], take down [go down, descend] the veil [a curtain, screen] of the curtain [a cover, a separation], and cover [to hide, protect] the ark [a box, a chest, the Ark of the Covenant] of the Testimony [a witness, God’s laws] with it [the curtain, the covering]. word study 6 They are to place over this a [fine, badger or antelope] covering of fine leather [skin, animal hide], spread a solid blue [violet, obtained from a specific type of mussel] cloth over it, and insert its [carrying, wooden] poles. word study 7 Over the table [of shewbread, the sacred table] of the Presence [face, being in front of God] they are to spread [to stretch out, unfurl] a blue [violet, a specific dye] cloth [garment, covering] and place the plates [dishes, vessels] and cups [cups for libation] on it, along with the bowls [sacrificial bowls, for holding liquids] and pitchers [jugs, containers for drink offerings] for the drink offering [a liquid poured out as a sacrifice]. The regular [continual, daily] bread offering [food, grain, a gift to God] is to remain [stay, be continually present] on it. word study 8 And they shall spread [over the top, covering completely] a scarlet [deep red, crimson] cloth [garment, covering] over them, cover [conceal, hide from view] them with fine [strong, durable] leather [animal hide, skin], and insert [put in place, set] the poles [bars, rods]. word study 9 They are to take [get, acquire] a blue [violet, cerulean] cloth and cover [hide from view, conceal] the lampstand [candlestick, chandelier] used for light [illumination, radiance], together with its lamps [light sources, torches], wick trimmers [tongs, snuffers], and trays [dishes, vessels], as well as the jars [containers, vessels] of oil [olive oil, anointing oil] with which to supply [minister, serve] it. word study 10 Then they shall wrap it [with care, in a covering] and all its utensils [articles, tools] inside a covering [of animal hide, leather] of fine [strong, durable] leather [badgers’ skin, sealskin] and put it [place, set] on the carrying [portable, movable] frame [yoke, pole, bar]. word study 11 Over the gold [valuable, brilliant] altar [place of sacrifice] they are to spread [stretch out, unfurl] a blue [violet, obtained from a specific type of mussel] cloth [garment, covering], cover it with fine [high-quality, delicate] leather [animal hide, possibly from a badger or antelope], and insert [put in place, set] the poles [bars, staves]. word study 12 They are to take [gather, collect] all the utensils [instruments, vessels] for serving [ministering, worshiping] in the sanctuary [holy place, set-apart area], place them in a blue [violet] cloth [garment, covering], cover them with fine [sealskin, badgers’] leather [hide, skin], and put them on the carrying [bar, frame, pole] frame [yoke, wooden beam]. word study 13 Then they shall remove [take away, cleanse] the ashes [burned waste] from the bronze altar [place of sacrifice], spread [stretch out, break apart] a purple [royal] cloth [garment, covering] over [upon, on top of] it, word study 14 and place on it all the vessels [utensils, equipment] used to serve there: the firepans [censers, pans for hot coals], meat forks [fleshhooks, three-pronged forks], shovels [for digging, lifting], and sprinkling bowls [basins, containers for liquids]—all the equipment [articles, tools] of the altar [place of sacrifice]. They are to spread over it a covering [cloth, lid] of fine leather [badgers’ skins, sealskin] and insert the poles [staves, carrying bars]. word study 15 When Aaron [the first high priest] and his sons have finished [completed, ended] covering [concealing, protecting] the holy objects [sacred things, vessels of the sanctuary] and all their equipment [utensils, furniture], as soon as the camp [the Israelite community, the congregation] is ready to move [set out, journey], the Kohathites [descendants of Kohath, a Levite] shall come and do the carrying [lift, bear]. But they must not touch [reach out to, handle] the holy objects [sacred things, consecrated items], or they will die [perish, lose their life]. These are the transportation duties [burdens, responsibilities] of the Kohathites regarding [concerning, related to] the Tent of Meeting [the tabernacle, the place of worship]. word study 16 Eleazar [son and successor] son of Aaron the priest [high priest, spiritual leader] shall oversee the oil [olive oil] for the light [illumination, spiritual enlightenment], the fragrant [sweet, pleasing] incense [a sweet smoke from burning sacrifices], the daily [continual, regular] grain offering [a gift or donation to God], and the anointing [consecrated, set apart] oil [a special oil used for consecration]. He has oversight [official care, responsibility] of the entire [all, complete] tabernacle [a special tent where God met with the Israelites] and everything [all, including the holy objects] in it, including the holy [set apart, sacred] objects [utensils, furniture] and their utensils [articles, tools].” word study 17 Then the LORD [Yehovah, the self-existent God] said [to speak, communicate, or command] to Moses [the Israelite leader, prophet, and mediator] and Aaron [the brother of Moses, the first high priest], word study 18 “Do not [under no circumstances] allow the Kohathite [descendants of Kohath, a Levite] tribal clans [family groups, tribes] to be cut off [destroyed, eliminated] from among the Levites [the tribe of Levi, descended from Jacob’s son]. word study 19 In order that they may live [and not perish, have life] and not die [be spiritually dead, experience separation from God] when they come near [approach, draw close to] the most holy things [the sacred or set-apart area, the Holy Place], do this for them: Aaron [the high priest, brother of Moses] and his sons are to go in [enter, come into the presence] and assign each man his task [service, work, ministry] and what he is to carry [his burden, responsibility, load]. word study 20 But the Kohathites [the priestly family, descendants of Kohath] are not [in no way, under no circumstances] to go [enter, approach] in and look [see, gaze upon] at the holy objects [sacred things, consecrated items], even for a moment [a brief instant, a short time], or they will die [perish, meet their end, cease to exist].” word study 21 And the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] said [to speak, communicate, or command] to Moses [the Israelite leader, born to Amram and Jochebed], word study 22 “Take a census [register, count, or sum] of the Gershonites [descendants of Gershon, a son of Levi] as well [also, too], by their families [households, clans] and clans [tribes, father’s houses], word study 23 from thirty [a son of thirty years old, from the age of thirty] to fifty [a son of fifty years old] years old, counting [to reckon, to number] everyone who comes [to enter in, to go in] to serve [to wait upon, to do the service] in the work [the service, the ministry] at the Tent [the tabernacle, the place of meeting] of Meeting [the appointed place, the sacred assembly]. word study 24 This [specific, particular] is the service [work, ministry] of the Gershonite [descendant of Gershon, a Levite] clans [families, tribes] regarding [concerning, related to] work [labor, task] and transport [burdens, carrying loads, to bear]: word study 25 They are to carry [bear the weight of, lift up] the curtains [hanging fabrics, drapes] of the tabernacle [the sacred tent, dwelling place], the Tent of Meeting [the place of divine encounter, assembly] with the covering [physical protection, shield] of fine leather [badgers’ skins, animal hides] over it, the curtains [veils, hangings] for the entrance [doorway, gateway] to the Tent of Meeting [the sacred assembly, gathering place], word study 26 the curtains [hangings, screens] of the courtyard, and the curtains [coverings, veils] for the entrance [doorway, gate] at the gate of the courtyard that surrounds [encloses, encompasses] the tabernacle [dwelling place, sanctuary] and altar [place of sacrifice, sacred table], along with their ropes [cords, strings] and all the equipment [utensils, tools] for their service [ministry, worship]. The Gershonites will do all that needs to be done [perform, accomplish] with these items [articles, objects]. word study 27 All the [divine, sacred] service [ministry, worship] of the Gershonites [descendants of Gershon, a Levite]—all their transport duties [burdens, responsibilities] and other work [tasks, assignments]—is to be done at the direction [command, supervision] of Aaron [the first high priest] and his sons; you are to assign to them all that they are responsible [accountable, obligated] to carry [bear, transport]. word study 28 This [specific, particular] is the service [work, ministry, or duty] of the Gershonite [descendant of Gershon, a Levite] clans [families, tribes] at the Tent [tabernacle, place of meeting] of Meeting [appointed time, sacred season], and their duties [charge, responsibilities, or tasks] shall be under the direction [hand, guidance, or supervision] of Ithamar [a leader] son of Aaron [the first high priest, brother of Moses] the priest [one who serves God, leads worship]. word study 29 As for the sons [descendants, offspring] of Merari [bitter, a son of Levi], you are to number [reckon, count] them by their clans [families, tribes] and families [households, father’s houses], word study 30 from thirty [a son of thirty years old, from the age of maturity] to fifty [a mature adult, in the prime of life] years old, counting [to reckon, to number, to enroll] everyone who comes [to enter, to go in, to approach] to serve [to work, to labor, to minister] in the work [the service, the ministry, the duty] of the Tent [the tabernacle, the dwelling place, the sanctuary] of Meeting [the place of assembly, the sacred gathering, the appointed time]. word study 31 This [specific, particular] is the duty [charge, responsibility] for all [everything, the entirety] their service [work, ministry] at the Tent [tabernacle, dwelling place] of Meeting [appointed time, gathering]: to carry [transport, bear] the frames [boards, planks] of the tabernacle [sacred tent, portable sanctuary] with its crossbars [bars, beams], posts [pillars, uprights], and bases [sockets, foundations], word study 32 and the posts [pillars, columns] of the surrounding courtyard with their bases [sockets, foundations], tent pegs [nails, pins], and ropes [cords, strings], including all their equipment [instruments, utensils] and everything related to their use [service, work]. You shall assign by name [specifically, personally] the items that they are responsible to carry [their burden, load]. word study 33 This [specific, particular] is the service [duty, ministry, work] of the Merarite [sons of Merari, bitter] clans [families, tribes] according to all [every, entire] their work [service, labor] at the Tent [tabernacle, dwelling place] of Meeting [appointed time, sacred season], under the direction [hand, guidance] of Ithamar [supervised by] son of Aaron [the high priest, leader] the priest [one who serves God, mediator].” word study 34 So Moses [the Israelite leader], Aaron [the first high priest], and the leaders [chiefs, princes] of the congregation [gathering, assembly] numbered [reckoned, counted] the Kohathites [descendants of Kohath, a Levite] by their clans [families, tribes] and families [households, relatives], word study 35 everyone from thirty [a son of thirty years, from the age of thirty] to fifty [a son of fifty years] years old who came [to enter, to go in] to serve [to minister, to do the work] in the work [the service, the ministry] at the Tent [the tabernacle, the place of meeting] of Meeting [the appointed place, the sacred assembly]. word study 36 And those numbered [counted, reckoned] by their clans [families, tribes] totaled [amounted to, were found to be] 2,750 [two thousand seven hundred and fifty, a large company]. word study 37 These [specific individuals, the ones in question] were counted from the Kohathite [descendants of Kohath, a Levite] clans, everyone who could serve [perform duties, minister] at the Tent [tabernacle, portable place of worship] of Meeting [appointed gathering place, sacred assembly]. Moses and Aaron numbered them according to the command [instruction, divine order] of the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] through [by means of, by the agency of] Moses. word study 38 Then the Gershonites [sons of Gershon, descendants of Levi] were numbered [reckoned, counted, visited] by their clans [families, tribes] and families [households, father’s houses], word study 39 everyone from thirty [a son of thirty years old, from the age of thirty] to fifty [a mature age] years old who came [entered into the service, went in to minister] to serve [to do the work, for the service] in the work [for the service, in the ministry] at the Tent [tabernacle, the sacred tent] of Meeting [of the congregation, the appointed place]. word study 40 And those numbered [reckoned, counted] by their [family, clan] clans and families [by the house of their fathers, in the order of their fathers’ houses] totaled [amounted to, were found to be] 2,630 [two thousand six hundred and thirty, a multitude]. word study 41 These [specific individuals, the ones in question] were counted from the Gershonite [descendants of Gershon, a son of Levi] clans who served [performed duties, worked] at the Tent [tabernacle, portable place of worship] of Meeting [appointed gathering place, sacred assembly], whom Moses [the Israelite leader, prophet] and Aaron [the first high priest, brother of Moses] counted [numbered, reckoned] at the LORD’s [Yehovah, the supreme God] command [instruction, decree]. word study 42 And the Merarites [sons of Merari, descendants of the third son of Levi] were numbered [reckoned, counted with care] by their clans [families, tribes] and families [households, father’s houses], word study 43 everyone from thirty [a son of thirty years old] to fifty [a son of fifty years old] years old who came [entered into the service, to go in] to serve [to do the work, for the service] in the work [for the service, to fulfill the rites] at the Tent [tabernacle, the place of meeting] of Meeting [the appointed time, the sacred season]. word study 44 The men [numbered by families] registered by their clans [in their families, after their families] numbered [were reckoned to be, were found to be] 3,200 [three thousand and two hundred, a total of 3,200]. word study 45 These [specific individuals, the ones in question] were counted from the Merarite [descendants of Merari, a Levite clan] clans, whom Moses [the Israelite leader, prophet] and Aaron [the first high priest] numbered at the LORD’s [Yehovah, the covenant God] command [instruction, decree] through Moses. word study 46 So Moses [the leader of Israel], Aaron [the first high priest], and the leaders [chiefs, princes] of Israel numbered [reckoned, counted] by their clans [families, tribes] and families [households, kin] all the Levites [descendants of Levi, a tribe of Israel] word study 47 from thirty [a son of thirty years old, from the age of thirty] to fifty [as a son of fifty years old] years old who came [went in, entered in] to do the work [service, ministry] of serving [to serve, to minister] and carrying [bearing burdens, to bear the load] the Tent [tabernacle, sacred tent] of Meeting [the appointed place, the place of assembly]. word study 48 And the number [total count, sum total] of men [individuals, persons] was [amounted to, came to] 8,580. word study 49 At the LORD’s [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] command [instruction, decree] they were numbered [reckoned, counted] through Moses [the Israelite leader] and each one was assigned [given, appointed] his work [service, task] and burden [load, responsibility], as the LORD [the supreme God] had commanded [given orders, instructed] Moses. word study