Numbers 4:7

7 And upon the table of shewbread they shall spread a cloth of blue, and put thereon the dishes, and the spoons, and the bowls, and covers[a] to cover withal: and the continual bread shall be thereon:

Numbers 4:7 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 4:7

And upon the table of shewbread they shall spread a cloth of
blue
That that also might not be seen nor touched by the Levites:

and put thereon the dishes, and the spoons, and the bowls, and the
covers to cover withal:
all which belonged to the shewbread table; the use of which, (See Gill on Exodus 25:29); these seem to be put not immediately upon the table, but upon the blue cloth spread over the table:

and the continual bread shall be thereon:
the shewbread is called "continual", because it was always on the table; for while the one was removing by a set of priests, which had stood a week, new loaves were placed by another set of priests: this bread seems at this time to be placed also upon the table, spread with the blue cloth; and from hence it appears, that the Israelites had the shewbread in the wilderness; for the making of which they might be supplied with corn from the neighbouring countries, though they themselves needed not any, being daily fed with manna.

Numbers 4:7 In-Context

5 And when the camp setteth forward, Aaron shall come, and his sons, and they shall take down the covering vail, 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 shewbread they shall spread a cloth of blue, and put thereon the dishes, and the spoons, and the bowls, and covers to cover 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 snuffdishes, and all the oil vessels thereof, wherewith they minister unto it:

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. cover...: or, pour out withal
The King James Version is in the public domain.