Numbers 1:53

53 "¹But the Levites shall camp around the tabernacle of the testimony, so that there will be ²no wrath on the congregation of the sons of Israel. ³So the Levites shall keep charge of the tabernacle of the testimony."

Numbers 1:53 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 1:53

But the Levites shall pitch round about the tabernacle of
testimony
Between the tabernacle and the camps of Israel, to guard the tabernacle and preserve the things in it, and to keep persons from going into it that should not, to pollute or plunder it: these were placed in like manner as the four living creatures round the throne, ( Revelation 4:6 ) ; where the allusion seems to be to this situation of the Levites:

that there be no wrath upon the congregation of the children of
Israel;
that is, from the Lord, should any of them approach too near, or meddle with and touch what they had nothing to do with, or go where they should not; such wrath as came upon Uzzah for his error and transgression before observed:

and the Levites shall keep the charge of the tabernacle of testimony;
the several things in it committed to their charge; see ( Numbers 3:8 ) .

Numbers 1:53 In-Context

51 "So when the tabernacle is to set out, the Levites shall take it down; and when the tabernacle encamps, the Levites shall set it up. But the layman who comes near shall be put to death.

52 "The sons of Israel shall camp, each man by his own camp, and each man by his own standard, according to their armies.

53 "But the Levites shall camp around the tabernacle of the testimony, so that there will be no wrath on the congregation of the sons of Israel. So the Levites shall keep charge of the tabernacle of the testimony."

54 Thus the sons of Israel did; according to all which the LORD had commanded Moses, so they did.

Cross References

• 1. Num 3:23, 29, 35, 38
• 2. Leviticus 10:6; Numbers 16:46; Numbers 18:5
• 3. Numbers 8:24; Numbers 18:2-4; 1 Chronicles 23:32