Bamidbar 4:14

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.

Bamidbar 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 ) .

Bamidbar 4:14 In-Context

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.
16 And to the pekuddat (oversight, office) of Eleazar ben Aharon HaKohen pertaineth the Shemen HaMa’ohr (Oil of Illumination), and the incense spices, and the Minchat HaTamid (Continual Grain Offering), and the Shemen HaMishchah (Anointing Oil), and the Pekuddat Kol HaMishkan, and of all that therein is, in HaKodesh, and in the vessels thereof.
The Orthodox Jewish Bible fourth edition, OJB. Copyright 2002,2003,2008,2010, 2011 by Artists for Israel International. All rights reserved.