Numbers 4:14

14 And they shall put with it all the vessels which they use in the service thereof, that is, the resets of fire, the tongs, and fleshhooks, and other hooks, and the censers, or the pans of coals; they shall cover all the vessels of the altar (al)together in a veil of jacinthine skins, and they shall lead in the bearing staves. (And they shall put on the altar all the vessels which they use in its service, that is, the fire receptacles, the tongs, and fleshhooks, and other hooks, and the censers, or the pans, for the coal; and they shall cover all the vessels of the altar with a leather cover, and then put in the carrying bars.)

Numbers 4:14 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 4:14

And they shall put upon it all the vessels thereof
Upon the altar covered with a blue cloth; on that were to be put everything belonging to the altar:

wherewith they minister about it;
the priests, when they offered sacrifice on it:

[even] the censers, the fleshhooks, and the shovels, and the basins,
all the vessels of the altar;
of which see ( Exodus 27:3 ) ;

and they shall spread upon it a covering of badgers' skins:
to prevent the rains falling upon them, which being all of brass, would be apt to tarnish:

and put to the staves of it;
which were made to bear and carry it on such an occasion as this, ( Exodus 27:6 Exodus 27:7 ) . No mention is made of the laver, though there is both in the Septuagint and Samaritan versions, which add,

``and they shall take a purple cloth and cover the layer, and its base, and shall put it into a covering of skin of a blue colour, and put it upon bearers:''

but perhaps the reason why this is not mentioned is, because it was carried uncovered; the mystery of which, Ainsworth conjectures, was this, that it might be a lively representation of the grace of God in Christ, continuing and opened as an ever springing fountain, where always God's elect, having faith in him, may wash and purge themselves in the blood of Christ unto forgiveness of sin sanctification of the Spirit, and salvation; see ( Zechariah 13:1 ) .

Numbers 4:14 In-Context

12 They shall wrap in a mantle of jacinth all the vessels in which it is ministered in the saintuary, and they shall stretch forth above it a covering of jacinthine skins, and they shall lead in the bearing staves. (And they shall wrap all the vessels with which they minister in the sanctuary in a blue mantle, and they shall wrap that in a leather cover, and then put it on a carrying bar, or a carrying pole.)

13 But also they shall cleanse the altar from (all) ashes, and (then) they shall wrap it in a cloth of purple.

14 And they shall put with it all the vessels which they use in the service thereof, that is, the resets of fire, the tongs, and fleshhooks, and other hooks, and the censers, or the pans of coals; they shall cover all the vessels of the altar (al)together in a veil of jacinthine skins, and they shall lead in the bearing staves. (And they shall put on the altar all the vessels which they use in its service, that is, the fire receptacles, the tongs, and fleshhooks, and other hooks, and the censers, or the pans, for the coal; and they shall cover all the vessels of the altar with a leather cover, and then put in the carrying bars.)

15 And when Aaron and his sons have wrapped the saintuary, and all [the] vessels thereof, in the moving of tents, then the sons of Kohath shall enter, that they bear the things wrapped, and touch not the vessels of the saintuary, lest they die. These be the burdens of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of [the] bond of peace, (And when Aaron and his sons have wrapped up the sanctuary, and all its vessels, in the moving of the tents, then the sons of Kohath shall enter to carry the things that be wrapped up, but they must not touch the sanctuary vessels, or they shall die/for if they touch them, then they must be put to death. These be the loads for the sons of Kohath in the Tabernacle of the Covenant.)

16 on which Eleazar, the son of Aaron, (the) priest, shall be; to whose care the oil pertaineth (with which) to ordain (the) lanterns, and the incense which is made by craft, and the sacrifice which is offered ever[more], that is, in each day, and the oil of anointing, and whatever thing pertaineth to the adorning of the tabernacle, and of all vessels that be in the saintuary. (And Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the priest, shall be in charge of the oil to fuel the lanterns, and the incense which is made by craft, and the offering which is offered forevermore, that is, on each day, and the oil of anointing, for he is in charge of whatever pertaineth to the service of the Tabernacle, and of all the vessels that be in the sanctuary.)