Numbers 4:15

15 `And Aaron hath finished -- his sons also -- covering the sanctuary, and all the vessels of the sanctuary, in the journeying of the camp, and afterwards do the sons of Kohath come in to bear [it], and they do not come unto the holy thing, that they have died; these [things are] the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tent of meeting.

Numbers 4:15 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 4:15

And when Aaron and his sons had made an end of covering the
sanctuary
Not the holy place, nor the most holy place, for these were not covered by them; but "the holy things" in them, as the Septuagint version, the ark, shewbread table and all "the vessels of the sanctuary"; all appertaining to those holy things, which are before mentioned. Jarchi interprets the "sanctuary", or the "holiness", of the ark and altar,

and all the vessels of the sanctuary;
of the candlestick and the instruments of ministry:

as the camp is to set forward;
which made the covering of them necessary, in order to their being carried as that moved:

after that the sons of Kohath shall come to bear [it];
or rather them, all the holy things, and their vessels, and that upon their shoulders:

but they shall not touch [any] holy thing;
even in bearing them, neither the ark nor any other, only the staves and bar, on which they were carried: lest they die; by the immediate hand of God:

these [things are] the burden of the sons of Kohath, in the tabernacle
of the congregation;
the above things, the ark which they were to bear on their shoulders, and not make use of wagons to carry them.

Numbers 4:15 In-Context

13 and have removed the ashes of the altar, and have spread over it a garment of purple;

14 and have put on it all its vessels wherewith they minister about it, the censers, the hooks, and the shovels, and the bowls, all the vessels of the altar, and have spread on it a covering of badger skin, and have placed its staves:

15 `And Aaron hath finished -- his sons also -- covering the sanctuary, and all the vessels of the sanctuary, in the journeying of the camp, and afterwards do the sons of Kohath come in to bear [it], and they do not come unto the holy thing, that they have died; these [things are] the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tent of meeting.

16 `And the oversight of Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, [is] the oil of the lamp, and the spice-perfume, and the present of continuity, and the anointing oil, the oversight of all the tabernacle, and of all that [is] in it, in the sanctuary, and in its vessels.'

17 And Jehovah speaketh unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,