Numbers 4

Numbers 4:1

4:1-3 The numbering in chapter 4 was to determine the number of Levites who were available for active service in connection with the tabernacle. These were the men from thirty . . . to fifty years of age. 4:4-20 Exo_25:15 says, “The poles shall be in the rings of the ark; they shall not be taken from it.” But verse 6 says that the priests “shall insert its poles.” A possible solution suggested in Keil and Delitzsch’s commentary is that verse 6 might be translated, “adjust its bearing poles.” The duties of the Kohathites are taken up first (vv. 4-20). Aaron and his sons were designated to pack the tabernacle and the sacred vessels (vv. 5-13). The ark (vv. 5, 6), the table of showbread (vv. 7, 8), the golden lampstand (vv. 9, 10), the golden altar (v. 11), the utensils (v. 12), and the bronze altar (vv. 13, 14) were to be draped with a covering of badger skins. The other sons of Kohath were then appointed to carry these covered articles. (The laver isn’t mentioned here but they must have carried it also.) They were not allowed to touch or even look on them uncovered, lest they die (vv. 15, 17-20). Eleazar the son of Aaron was placed in charge of the tabernacle and its sacred furnishings (v. 16). The veil between the Holiest and the holy place always hid the ark from view (v. 5). Even when Israel was on the move, the ark was covered by this same veil, which pictured the body of our Lord Jesus Christ. No one except the high priest could look upon the throne of God above the ark until Calvary, when the veil was forever torn in two. 4:21-28 The Gershonites were to carry the curtains of the tabernacle, the tabernacle of meeting, the hangings of the court, and the screens. Ithamar the son of Aaron was in charge of the Gershonites. 4:29-33 The families of the sons of Merari were appointed to carry the boards, bars, pillars, sockets, pegs, and cords. 4:34-49 The results of the census were as follows:

Kohathites2750Gershonites2630Merarites3200TOTAL number of Levites from ages 30-508580