Numbers 4:1-8

The Kohathites

1 The LORD said to Moses and Aaron:

2 “Take a census of the Kohathite branch of the Levites by their clans and families.

3 Count all the men from thirty to fifty years of age who come to serve in the work at the tent of meeting.

4 “This is the work of the Kohathites at the tent of meeting: the care of the most holy things.

5 When the camp is to move, Aaron and his sons are to go in and take down the shielding curtain and put it over the ark of the covenant law.

6 Then they are to cover the curtain with a durable leather,^[a] spread a cloth of solid blue over that and put the poles in place.

7 “Over the table of the Presence they are to spread a blue cloth and put on it the plates, dishes and bowls, and the jars for drink offerings; the bread that is continually there is to remain on it.

8 They are to spread a scarlet cloth over them, cover that with the durable leather and put the 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

Cross References 15

1. S Exodus 30:12
2. S Numbers 1:47
3. ver 23; Numbers 8:25; 1Ch 23:3,24,27; Ezra 3:8
4. S Numbers 3:28
5. Numbers 7:9
6. ver 19
7. Numbers 1:51
8. S Exodus 26:31,33
9. 1 Chronicles 23:26; Exodus 25:10,16
10. S Exodus 25:5
11. S Exodus 25:13-15; 1 Kings 8:7; 2 Chronicles 5:8
12. Exodus 25:23,29; S Leviticus 24:6
13. Exodus 39:36; Jeremiah 52:19
14. S Exodus 25:30
15. Exodus 26:26-28

Footnotes 1

[a]. Possibly the hides of large aquatic mammals; also in verses 8, 10, 11, 12, 14 and 25