Numbers 4:1-8

Duties of the Kohathites

1 The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron:

2 "Among the Levites, take a census of the Kohathites^[a] by their clans and their ancestral houses,

3 men from 30 years old to 50 years old-everyone who is qualified^[b] to do work at the tent of meeting.

4 "The service of the Kohathites at the tent of meeting concerns the most holy objects.^[c]

5 Whenever the camp is about to move on, Aaron and his sons are to go in, take down the screening veil, and cover the ark of the testimony with it.^[d]

6 They are to place over this a covering made of manatee skin,^[e] spread a solid blue cloth on top, and insert its poles.^[f]

7 "They are to spread a blue cloth over the table of the Presence and place the plates and cups on it, as well as the bowls and pitchers for the drink offering. The regular bread [offering] is to be on it.^[g]

8 They are to spread a scarlet cloth over them, cover them with a covering made of manatee skin,^[h] and insert the poles [in the table].^[i]

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.

Footnotes

• [a] Nm 3:27-31; Ex 6:16,18; 1 Ch 6:22-28
• [b] Lit everyone entering the service
• [c] Nm 3:30-31; 4:15-19
• [d] Ex 25:10-22; 26:31-33
• [e] Or of dolphin skin, or of fine leather; Hb obscure
• [f] Ex 25:13-15
• [g] Ex 25:30; Lv 24:5-9
• [h] Or of dolphin skin, or of fine leather; Hb obscure
• [i] Ex 25:26-28