Numbers 1:51
Numbers 1:51 in Multiple Translations
Whenever the tabernacle is to move, the Levites are to take it down, and whenever it is to be pitched, the Levites are to set it up. Any outsider who goes near it must be put to death.
And when the tabernacle setteth forward, the Levites shall take it down: and when the tabernacle is to be pitched, the Levites shall set it up: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.
And when the tabernacle setteth forward, the Levites shall take it down; and when the tabernacle is to be pitched, the Levites shall set it up: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.
And when the Tent of meeting goes forward, the Levites are to take it down; and when it is to be put up, they are to do it: any strange person who comes near it is to be put to death.
When it's time to move the Tabernacle, the Levites shall take it down, and when it's time to make camp, the Levites shall put it up. Any outsider who goes near it must be put to death.
And when the Tabernacle goeth forth, the Leuites shall take it downe: and when the Tabernacle is to be pitched, ye Leuites shall set it vp: for the stranger that commeth neere, shalbe slaine.
'And in the journeying of the tabernacle, the Levites take it down, and in the encamping of the tabernacle, the Levites raise it up; and the stranger who is coming near is put to death.'
When the tabernacle is to move, the Levites shall take it down; and when the tabernacle is to be set up, the Levites shall set it up. The stranger who comes near shall be put to death.
And when the tabernacle moveth forward, the Levites shall take it down; and when the tabernacle is to be pitched, the Levites shall set it up: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.
When you are to go forward, the Levites shall take down the tabernacle: when you are to camp, they shall set it up. What stranger soever cometh to it, shall be slain.
Whenever it is time for all of you to move to another location, the descendants of Levi are the ones who must dismantle the tent. And when it is time to stop traveling, they are the ones who must set up the Sacred Tent again. Any other person who goes near the Sacred Tent to do this work must be executed.
Berean Amplified Bible — Numbers 1:51
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Numbers 1:51 Interlinear (Deep Study)
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Hebrew Word Reference — Numbers 1:51
Study Notes — Numbers 1:51
- Context
- Cross References
- Numbers 1:51 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Numbers 1:51
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Numbers 1:51
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Numbers 1:51
- Ellicott's Commentary on Numbers 1:51
- Cambridge Bible on Numbers 1:51
- Whedon's Commentary on Numbers 1:51
- Sermons on Numbers 1:51
Context — The Exemption of the Levites
51Whenever the tabernacle is to move, the Levites are to take it down, and whenever it is to be pitched, the Levites are to set it up. Any outsider who goes near it must be put to death.
52The Israelites are to camp by their divisions, each man in his own camp and under his own standard. 53But the Levites are to camp around the tabernacle of the Testimony and watch over it, so that no wrath will fall on the congregation of Israel. So the Levites are responsible for the tabernacle of the Testimony.”Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Numbers 3:38 | Moses, Aaron, and Aaron’s sons were to camp to the east of the tabernacle, toward the sunrise, before the Tent of Meeting. They were to perform the duties of the sanctuary as a service on behalf of the Israelites; but any outsider who approached the sanctuary was to be put to death. |
| 2 | Numbers 3:10 | So you shall appoint Aaron and his sons to carry out the duties of the priesthood; but any outsider who approaches the tabernacle must be put to death.” |
| 3 | 1 Samuel 6:19 | But God struck down some of the people of Beth-shemesh because they looked inside the ark of the LORD. He struck down seventy men, and the people mourned because the LORD had struck them with a great slaughter. |
| 4 | Numbers 18:22 | No longer may the Israelites come near to the Tent of Meeting, or they will incur guilt and die. |
| 5 | 2 Samuel 6:7 | And the anger of the LORD burned against Uzzah, and God struck him down on the spot for his irreverence, and he died there beside the ark of God. |
| 6 | Numbers 10:11 | On the twentieth day of the second month of the second year, the cloud was lifted from above the tabernacle of the Testimony, |
| 7 | Numbers 16:40 | just as the LORD commanded him through Moses. This was to be a reminder to the Israelites that no outsider who is not a descendant of Aaron should approach to offer incense before the LORD, lest he become like Korah and his followers. |
| 8 | Numbers 10:17–21 | Then the tabernacle was taken down, and the Gershonites and the Merarites set out, transporting it. Then the divisions of the camp of Reuben set out under their standard, with Elizur son of Shedeur in command. Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai was over the division of the tribe of Simeon, and Eliasaph son of Deuel was over the division of the tribe of Gad. Then the Kohathites set out, transporting the holy objects; the tabernacle was to be set up before their arrival. |
| 9 | Leviticus 22:10–13 | No one outside a priest’s family may eat the sacred offering, nor may the guest of a priest or his hired hand eat it. But if a priest buys a slave with his own money, or if a slave is born in his household, that slave may eat his food. If the priest’s daughter is married to a man other than a priest, she is not to eat of the sacred contributions. But if a priest’s daughter with no children becomes widowed or divorced and returns to her father’s house, she may share her father’s food as in her youth. But no outsider may share it. |
| 10 | Numbers 4:1–33 | Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Take a census of the Kohathites among the Levites by their clans and families, men from thirty to fifty years old—everyone who is qualified to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting. This service of the Kohathites at the Tent of Meeting regards the most holy things. Whenever the camp sets out, Aaron and his sons are to go in, take down the veil of the curtain, and cover the ark of the Testimony with it. They are to place over this a covering of fine leather, spread a solid blue cloth over it, and insert its poles. Over the table of the Presence they are to spread a blue cloth and place the plates and cups on it, along with the bowls and pitchers for the drink offering. The regular bread offering is to remain on it. And they shall spread a scarlet cloth over them, cover them with fine leather, and insert the poles. They are to take a blue cloth and cover the lampstand used for light, together with its lamps, wick trimmers, and trays, as well as the jars of oil with which to supply it. Then they shall wrap it and all its utensils inside a covering of fine leather and put it on the carrying frame. Over the gold altar they are to spread a blue cloth, cover it with fine leather, and insert the poles. They are to take all the utensils for serving in the sanctuary, place them in a blue cloth, cover them with fine leather, and put them on the carrying frame. Then they shall remove the ashes from the bronze altar, spread a purple cloth over it, and place on it all the vessels used to serve there: the firepans, meat forks, shovels, and sprinkling bowls—all the equipment of the altar. They are to spread over it a covering of fine leather and insert the poles. When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy objects and all their equipment, as soon as the camp is ready to move, the Kohathites shall come and do the carrying. But they must not touch the holy objects, or they will die. These are the transportation duties of the Kohathites regarding the Tent of Meeting. Eleazar son of Aaron the priest shall oversee the oil for the light, the fragrant incense, the daily grain offering, and the anointing oil. He has oversight of the entire tabernacle and everything in it, including the holy objects and their utensils.” Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Do not allow the Kohathite tribal clans to be cut off from among the Levites. In order that they may live and not die when they come near the most holy things, do this for them: Aaron and his sons are to go in and assign each man his task and what he is to carry. But the Kohathites are not to go in and look at the holy objects, even for a moment, or they will die.” And the LORD said to Moses, “Take a census of the Gershonites as well, by their families and clans, from thirty to fifty years old, counting everyone who comes to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting. This is the service of the Gershonite clans regarding work and transport: They are to carry the curtains of the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting with the covering of fine leather over it, the curtains for the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, the curtains of the courtyard, and the curtains for the entrance at the gate of the courtyard that surrounds the tabernacle and altar, along with their ropes and all the equipment for their service. The Gershonites will do all that needs to be done with these items. All the service of the Gershonites—all their transport duties and other work—is to be done at the direction of Aaron and his sons; you are to assign to them all that they are responsible to carry. This is the service of the Gershonite clans at the Tent of Meeting, and their duties shall be under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest. As for the sons of Merari, you are to number them by their clans and families, from thirty to fifty years old, counting everyone who comes to serve in the work of the Tent of Meeting. This is the duty for all their service at the Tent of Meeting: to carry the frames of the tabernacle with its crossbars, posts, and bases, and the posts of the surrounding courtyard with their bases, tent pegs, and ropes, including all their equipment and everything related to their use. You shall assign by name the items that they are responsible to carry. This is the service of the Merarite clans according to all their work at the Tent of Meeting, under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.” |
Numbers 1:51 Summary
[This verse is saying that the Levites were in charge of setting up and taking down the tabernacle, which was like a special tent where God lived among His people, as seen in Exodus 25:8. They had to be very careful and follow God's instructions exactly, because God's presence was holy and powerful, as seen in Leviticus 10:1-3. Anyone who wasn't supposed to be near the tabernacle had to stay away, because God wanted to keep His people safe and separate from the rest of the world, as seen in Numbers 3:10 and Numbers 18:7. This reminds us that God is still holy and powerful today, and we need to approach Him with reverence and respect, as seen in Hebrews 12:28-29.]
Frequently Asked Questions
Why were the Levites given the responsibility of setting up and taking down the tabernacle?
The Levites were given this responsibility because they were appointed by God to care for the tabernacle and its furnishings, as seen in Numbers 1:50, and this task required great care and attention to detail, as instructed in Exodus 25:9 and Exodus 40:17.
What is the significance of the warning that any outsider who goes near the tabernacle must be put to death?
This warning emphasizes the holiness of God and the importance of respecting the boundaries He has set, as seen in Numbers 3:10 and Numbers 18:7, and it also highlights the role of the Levites as guardians of the tabernacle and the people of Israel.
How does this verse relate to the concept of God's presence among His people?
This verse shows that God's presence is not to be taken lightly, and that those who approach Him must do so with reverence and respect, as seen in Leviticus 10:1-3 and Hebrews 12:28-29, and it also highlights the importance of the Levites in maintaining the purity and holiness of the tabernacle and the people of Israel.
What can we learn from the Levites' role in caring for the tabernacle about our own role in serving God?
We can learn that our service to God requires dedication, attention to detail, and a willingness to follow His instructions carefully, as seen in Colossians 3:23-24 and Matthew 25:14-30, and that our service is not just about what we do, but also about how we do it, with reverence, respect, and a focus on God's glory.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways that I can show reverence and respect for God's presence in my life, just as the Levites did in their care for the tabernacle?
- How can I apply the principle of respecting boundaries and following instructions carefully in my own service to God, just as the Levites did?
- What are some ways that I can serve God with dedication and attention to detail, just as the Levites did in their care for the tabernacle?
- How can I prioritize the purity and holiness of my own heart and life, just as the Levites prioritized the purity and holiness of the tabernacle and the people of Israel?
Gill's Exposition on Numbers 1:51
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Numbers 1:51
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Numbers 1:51
Ellicott's Commentary on Numbers 1:51
Cambridge Bible on Numbers 1:51
Whedon's Commentary on Numbers 1:51
Sermons on Numbers 1:51
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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God Is Training a Holy Remnant by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the scarcity of true men of God who walk with God, seek His face, and speak His word without manipulation or greed. He highlights the need fo |
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Shocking Youth Message Stuns Hearers by Paul Washer | In this sermon, the preacher questions why so many people claim to have encountered Jesus Christ but are not permanently changed. He emphasizes the importance of genuine transforma |
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(1 Samuel) the Holiness of God by David Guzik | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the human fascination with the supernatural and the desire to know something beyond our earthly existence. He relates this to the modern fasc |
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Numbers and Deuteronomy by Ron Bailey | In this sermon, the speaker reflects on the experience of being served in a hotel and draws a parallel to the role of a priest serving the Lord. The speaker emphasizes that those w |




