Numbers 4:1-8

Second census and the Levites’ duties

The Kohathites’ duties

1 The LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron:

2 Take a census of the Kohathites from among the Levites by their clans and their households,

3 from 30 to 50 years old, all who are eligible for service to do the work of the meeting tent.

4 These are the responsibilities of the Kohathites in the meeting tent: the most holy things.

5 When it's time to break camp, Aaron and his sons will enter and take down the screening curtain, and they will cover the chest containing the covenant with it.

6 Then they will place a covering of fine leather on it. They will spread a whole cloth of blue over it, and they will set its poles in place.

7 They will spread a blue cloth on the presentation table and place on it the plates, the dishes, the bowls, and the container for the drink offering. The usual bread will be on it.

8 They will spread on them a red cloth, cover it with fine leather, and set its poles in place.

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Numbers 4:1-8 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO NUMBERS 4

This chapter relates an order to number the Levites fit for business, and gives an account of the time and age when they should enter into service, and how long they should continue therein, Nu 4:1-3; what their particular service should be; and first of the Kohathites, Nu 4:4-20; next of the Gershonites, Nu 4:21-28; and then of the Merarites, Nu 4:29-33; after which Moses and Aaron, with the chief of the congregation, numbered each of them, even as many as were at the age fit for service, as the Kohathites, Nu 4:34-37; the Gershonites, Nu 4:38-41; the Merarites, Nu 4:42-45; the sum total of which is given, Nu 4:46-49.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Footnotes 1

[a]. Or dolphin skin; see also 4:8, 10–12