Bamidbar 4:13

13 And they shall take away the ashes from the Mizbe’ach, and spread a purple cloth thereon:

Bamidbar 4:13 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 4:13

And they shall take away the ashes from the altar, and spread
a purple cloth thereon.
] Having cleared the holy of holies, and the holy place, they were to come forth from thence into the court of the tabernacle, where stood the altar of burnt offering, which is here meant, and on which sacrifices being daily burnt, there were always ashes to be removed; and which at this time was highly necessary to be done, when the tabernacle was taken down, and all belonging to it to be carried away; and though no mention is made of the fire, which was always burning on it, it was doubtless preserved, and care was taken for the carrying it along with the altar, or in a separate vessel from it. Bishop Patrick supposes it might be carried upon the grate.

Bamidbar 4:13 In-Context

11 And upon the Mizbach HaZahav they shall spread a cloth of sky-blue, and cover it a tachash hide covering, and shall put in place the poles thereof;
12 And they shall take all the Klei HaSharet (Utensils of Ministry), wherewith they minister in HaKodesh, and put them in a cloth of skyblue, and cover them with a tachash hide covering, and shall put them on the carrying frame;
13 And they shall take away the ashes from the Mizbe’ach, and spread a purple cloth thereon:
14 And they shall put upon it all the utensils thereof, wherewith they minister upon it, even the fire pans, the meathooks, and the shovels, and the basins, all the Klei HaMizbe’ach; and they shall spread upon it a tachash hide covering, and put in place its poles.
15 And when Aharon and his banim have made an end of covering HaKodesh, and all the Klei HaKodesh, as the machaneh (camp) is to set forward, after that, the Bnei Kehat shall come to bear it; but they shall not touch any kodesh, lest they die. These things are the massa (burden) of the Bnei Kehat in the Ohel Mo’ed.
The Orthodox Jewish Bible fourth edition, OJB. Copyright 2002,2003,2008,2010, 2011 by Artists for Israel International. All rights reserved.