Numbers 4

Numbers 4:1-20

In the former chapter on account was taken of the whole tribe of Levi, in this of these of that tribe that were in the prime of their time for service, between thirty and fifty years old. 1. The foreseeable men of the Kohathites are ordered to be numbered, and their charges given them, ver. 2, 20. 2. Of the Gershonites, ver. 24, 28. 3. Of the Meravites, ver. 29—33. 4. The numbers of each, and the sum total at last are recorded, ver. 34—49.

1. AND the LORD spake unto Moses, and unto Aaron, saying, 2. Take the sum of the sons of Kohath from among the sons of Levi, after their families, by the house of their fathers; 3. From thirty years old and upward, even until fifty years old, all that enter into the host, to do the work in the tabernacle of the congregation. 4. This shall be the service of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation, about the most holy things. 5. And when the camp setteth forward, Aaron shall come and his sons, and they shall take down the covering vali, and cover the ark of testimony with it: 6. And shall put thereon the covering of badgers skins, and shall spread over it a cloth wholly of blue, and shall put in the staves thereof. 7. And upon the table of these-bread they shall spread a cloth of blue, and put thereon the dishes, and the spoons, and the bowls, and covers to the other withal: and the continual bread shall be thereon. 8. And they shall spread upon them a cloth of scarlet, and cover the same with a covering of badgers skins, and shall put in the staves thereof. 9. And they shall take a cloth of blue, and cover the candlestick of the light, and his lamps, and his tongs, and his snuff-dishes, and all the oil-veffels thereof, wherewith they minister unto it. 10. And they shall put it and all the vessels thereof within a covering of badgers skins, and shall put it upon a bar. 11. And upon the golden altar they shall spread a cloth of blue, and cover it with a covering of badgers skins, and shall put to the staves thereof. 12. And they shall take all the instruments of ministry, wherewith they minister in the sanctuary, and put them in a cloth of blue, and cover them with a covering of badgers skins, and shall put them on a bar. 13. And they shall take away the ashes from the altar, and spread a purple cloth thereon: 14. And they shall put upon it all the vessels thereof, wherewith they minister about it, even the centers, the flesh-hooks, and the shovels, and the basons, all the vessels of the altar; and they shall spread upon it a covering of badgers skins, and put to the staves of it. 15. And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the vessels of the sanctuary, as the camp is to set forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear it; but they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die. These things are the burden of the sons of Kohath, in the tabernacle of the congregation. 16. And to the office of Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, persianeth the oil for the light, and the sweet incense, and the daily meat-offering, and the anointing oil, and the overnight of all the tabernacle, and of all that therein is, in the sanctuary, and in the vessels thereof. 17. And the LORD spake unto Moses, and unto Aaron, saying, 18. Cut ye not off the tribe of the families of the Kohathites, from among the Levites. 19. But thus do unto them, that they may live and not die, when they approach unto the most holy things; Aaron and his sons shall go in, and appoint them every one to his service, and to his burden. 20. But they shall not go in to see when the holy things are covered, lest they die.

Since no Levite was capable of ministring till

thirty, nor longer than fifty, a new review if necessary to select these from their brethren. Ministers have need of much wisdom and solidity; youthful novices, it is to be feared, will discredit their holy calling. They are to enter the host, and do the work of the tabernacle: the ministry is not a calling of ears, but labour; they who take it upon them, need approve themselves hardy and good soldiers of Jesus Christ. As in all our removes, we must take God and his worship with us, charge is given about the tabernacle: the carriage of the nobles part of it is committed to the sons of Kohath. Aaron and his sons must take down, and cover all the holy things: the Levites may not touch nor see them: this dispensation was dark, a vali covered it, which vali is done away in Christ. Eleazar must take care both of their burdens and persons, least by transgressing, they should be cut off. The charge of men’s lives is great, but how much greater the charge of immortal souls.

21. ¶ And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 22. Take also the sum of the sons of Gershon, throughout the houses of their fathers, by their families; 23. From thirty years old and upward, until fifty years old shall thou number them; all that enter in to perform the service, to do the work in the tabernacle of the congregation. 24. This is the service of the families of the Gershonites, to serve, and for burdens. 25. And they shall bear the curtains of the tabernacle, and the tabernacle of the congregation, his covering, and the covering of the badgers skins that it above upon it, and the hanging for the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 26. And the hanging of the court, and the hanging for the door of the gate of the court which it by the tabernacle, and by the altar round about, and their cords, and all the instruments of their service, and all that is made for them: so shall they serve. 27. At the appointment of Aaron and his sons, shall be all the service of the sons of the Gershonites, in all their burdens, and in all their services; and ye shall appoint unto them in charge all their burdens. 28. This is the service of the families of the sons of Gershon, in the tabernacle of the congregation: and their charge shall be under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest. 29. ¶ As for the sons of Merari, thou shalt number them after their families, by the house of their fathers; 30. From thirty years old and upward, even unto fifty years old shall thou number them, every one that entereth in to the § service, to do the work of the tabernacle of the congregation. 31. And this is the charge of their burden, according to all their service in the tabernacle of the congregation; the boards of the tabernacle, and the bars thereof, and the pillars thereof, and sockets thereof. 32. And the pillars of the court round about, and their sockets, and their pins, and their cords, with all their instruments, and with all their services; and by name ye shall reckon the instruments of the charge of their burden. 33. This is the service of the families of the sons of Merari, according to all their service in the tabernacle of the congregation, under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.

Numbers 4:21-33

Ithamar had the charge of the other families: Gershon took care of the drapery, and Merari of the mare heavy carriage of the tabernacle. Every pin must be produced, and nothing be lost. Now, (1) Every tittle of God’s word is precious, and to be preserved with sacred reverence. (2) When this earthly tabernacle of our bodies shall be dissolved, as our souls under the conduct of the divine Eleazar go before, our bodies shall follow, and on the resurrection day, a glorious tabernacle be raised up again, that never more shall be taken down or removed.

34. ¶ And Moses and Aaron, and the chief of the congregation numbered the sons of the Kohathites, after their families, and after the house of their fathers: 35. From thirty years old and upward, even unto fifty years old, every one that entreth in to the service for the work in the tabernacle of the congregation: 36. And those that were numbered of them by their families, were two thousand seven hundred and fifty. 37. These were they that were numbered of the families of the Kohathites, all that might do service in the tabernacle of the congregation, which Moses and Aaron did number, according to the commandment of the LORD by the hand of Moses. 38. And those that were numbered of the sons of Gershon, throughout their families, and by the house of their fathers

Hea. 2a was the women. On the men. 23. § Hea. 40a of Chap. 1. 36. Chap. 1490. 1p

fathers; 39. From thirty years old, and upward, even unto fifty years old, every one that enureth in to the service for the work in the tabernacle of the congregation: 40. Even those that were numbered of them, throughout their families, by the houses of their fathers, were two thousand and six hundred and thirty. 41. These are they that were numbered of the families of the sons of Grafton, of all that might do service in the tabernacle of the congregation, whom Mofes and Aaron did number, according to the commandment of the LORD. 42. ¶ And those that were numbered of the families of the sons of Merari, throughout their families, by the house of their fathers; 43. From thirty years old and upward, even unto fifty years old, every one that enureth in to the service for the work in the tabernacle of the congregation: 44. Even those that were numbered of them after their families, were three thousand and two hundred. 45. These do those that were numbered of the families of the sons of Merari, whom Mofes and Aaron numbered, according to the word of the LORD by the hand of Mofes. 46. All those that were numbered of the Levites, whom Mofes and Aaron, and the chief of Israel, numbered, after their families and after the house of their fathers: 47. From thirty years old and upward, even unto fifty years old, every one that came to do the service of the ministry, and the service of the burden in the tabernacle of the congregation; 48. Even those that were numbered of them, were eight thousand and five hundred and fourfores. 49. According to the commandment of the LORD, they were numbered by the hand of Mofes, every one according to his service, and according to his burden: thus were they numbered of him, as the LORD commanded Mofes.

9. 38—39. An account is taken of the effective men of two of the families: they were but about a third. The Merarites, who had the heaviest part of the duty, had more than half their number of age; so constantly will God prepare the back for the burden. The whole who were engaged in the service, were no more than 8 1/2, a small number, compared with the men of war. Note, God’s peculiar people are a little flock, compared with the legions listed in the cause and service of sin.