Numbers 4:1-7

1 The LORD said to Moses and Aaron,

2 "Take a census of the sons of Kohath from among the sons of Levi, by their families and their fathers' houses,

3 from thirty years old up to fifty years old, all who can enter the service, to do the work in the tent of meeting.

4 This is the service of the sons of Kohath in the tent of meeting: the most holy things.

5 When the camp is to set out, Aaron and his sons shall go in and take down the veil of the screen, and cover the ark of the testimony with it;

6 then they shall put on it a covering of goatskin, and spread over that a cloth all of blue, and shall put in its poles.

7 And over the table of the bread of the Presence they shall spread a cloth of blue, and put upon it the plates, the dishes for incense, the bowls, and the flagons for the drink offering; the continual bread also shall be on it;

Numbers 4:1-7 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.