Numbers 4:6-16

6 and they shall lay a 1covering of porpoise skin on it, and shall spread over it a cloth of pure blue, and shall insert its poles.
7 "Over the table of the bread of the Presence they shall also spread a cloth of blue and put on it the dishes and the pans and the sacrificial bowls and the jars for the drink offering, and 2the continual bread shall be on it.
8 "They shall spread over them a cloth of scarlet material, and cover the same with a covering of porpoise skin, and they shall insert its poles.
9 "Then they shall take a blue cloth and cover the 3lampstand for the light, 4along with its lamps and its snuffers, and its trays and all its oil vessels, by which they serve it;
10 and they shall put it and all its utensils in a covering of porpoise skin, and shall put it on the carrying bars.
11 "Over the golden altar they shall spread a blue cloth and cover it with a covering of porpoise skin, and shall insert its poles;
12 and they shall take all the utensils of service, with which they serve in the sanctuary, and put them in a blue cloth and cover them with a covering of porpoise skin, and put them on the carrying bars.
13 "Then they shall take away the ashes from the 5altar, and spread a purple cloth over it.
14 "They shall also put on it all its utensils by which they serve in connection with it: the firepans, the forks and shovels and the basins, all the utensils of the altar; and they shall spread a cover of porpoise skin over it and insert its poles.
15 "When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy objects and all the furnishings of the sanctuary, when the camp is to set out, after that the sons of Kohath shall come to carry them, so that they will not touch the holy objects 6and die. These are the things in the tent of meeting which the sons of Kohath are to carry.
16 "The responsibility of Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest is 7the oil for the light and the 8fragrant incense and 9the continual grain offering and 10the anointing oil -the responsibility of all the tabernacle and of all that is in it, with the sanctuary and its furnishings."

Numbers 4:6-16 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.

Cross References 10

  • 1. Numbers 4:25
  • 2. Exodus 25:30; Leviticus 24:5-9
  • 3. Exodus 25:31
  • 4. Exodus 25:37, 38
  • 5. Exodus 27:1-8
  • 6. Numbers 1:51; Numbers 4:19, 20; 2 Samuel 6:6, 7
  • 7. Leviticus 24:1-3
  • 8. Exodus 30:34-38
  • 9. Leviticus 6:20
  • 10. Exodus 30:22-33

Footnotes 9

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, California.  All rights reserved.