Numbers 4:14-24

14 They must gather all the things used for serving at the altar -- the pans for carrying the fire, the meat forks, the shovels, and the bowls -- and put them on the bronze altar. Then they must spread a covering of fine leather over it and put the poles in place.
15 "When the Israelites are ready to move, and when Aaron and his sons have covered the holy furniture and all the holy things, the Kohathites may go in and carry them away. In this way they won't touch the holy things and die. It is the Kohathites' job to carry the things that are in the Meeting Tent.
16 "Eleazar son of Aaron, the priest, will be responsible for the Holy Tent and for everything in it, for all the holy things it has: the oil for the lamp, the sweet-smelling incense, the continual grain offering, and the oil used to appoint priests and things to the Lord's service."
17 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron,
18 "Don't let the Kohathites be cut off from the Levites.
19 Do this for the Kohathites so that they may go near the Most Holy Place and not die: Aaron and his sons must go in and show each Kohathite what to do and what to carry.
20 The Kohathites must not enter and look at the holy things, even for a second, or they will die."
21 The Lord said to Moses,
22 "Count the Gershonites by families and family groups.
23 Count the men from thirty to fifty years old, all who have a job to do in the Meeting Tent.
24 "This is what the Gershonite family groups must do and what they must carry.

Numbers 4:14-24 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.

Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.