Numbers 7:8

8 and four utility carts and eight cattle he gave to the descendants of Merari {according to their required service}, {under the authority of} Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.

Numbers 7:8 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 7:8

And four wagons and eight oxen he gave to the sons of Merari,
&c.] All the remaining wagons and oxen, which were double the number given to the Gershonites:

according unto their service;
being much heavier than theirs, having all the boards, pillars, sockets, pins; cords to bear and carry: thus Moses was directed of God wisely to dispose of those carriages, in proportion to the services each was employed in; and in a spiritual way, as the day, duty, and service of the people of God be, he proportions grace and strength to them to answer thereunto:

under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest;
under whose care, inspection, and direction, were both the Gershonites and Merarites, ( Numbers 4:28 Numbers 4:33 ) ; and by whom were delivered, according to the instruction of Moses, the several wagons and oxen, to them.

Numbers 7:8 In-Context

6 So Moses took the utility carts and the cattle, and he gave them to the Levites.

7 Two utility carts and four cattle he gave to the descendants of Gershon {according to their required service};

8 and four utility carts and eight cattle he gave to the descendants of Merari {according to their required service}, {under the authority of} Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.

9 But to the descendants of Kohath he did not give [anything] because the work of the sanctuary they carried upon them on their shoulders.

10 The leaders presented offerings for the dedication of the altar on [the] day of its anointing, and the leaders presented their offerings {before} the altar.

Footnotes

• [a] Or "sons"
• [b] Literally "according to the mouth of their work"
• [c] Literally "in the hand of"