Numbers 4:9-19

9 They shall take also a mantle of jacinth with which they shall cover the candlestick, with his lanterns, and tongs, and snuffers, and all the oil vessels that be needful to the lanterns to be ordained; (And they shall take a blue mantle with which they shall cover the lamp-stand, with its lanterns, and tongs, and snuffers, and all the oil vessels that be needed for the lanterns to be lit;)
10 and upon all these things they shall put a covering of jacinthine skins, and they shall bring, or lead, in the bearing staves. (and they shall wrap all these things in a leather cover, and then put it on a carrying bar, or a carrying pole.)
11 Also they shall wrap the golden altar in a cloth of jacinth; and they shall stretch forth above it a covering of jacinthine skins, and they shall lead in [the] bearing staves. (And they shall wrap the gold altar in a blue mantle; and they shall wrap that in a leather cover, and then put in the carrying bars.)
12 They shall wrap in a mantle of jacinth all the vessels in which it is ministered in the saintuary, and they shall stretch forth above it a covering of jacinthine skins, and they shall lead in the bearing staves. (And they shall wrap all the vessels with which they minister in the sanctuary in a blue mantle, and they shall wrap that in a leather cover, and then put it on a carrying bar, or a carrying pole.)
13 But also they shall cleanse the altar from (all) ashes, and (then) they shall wrap it in a cloth of purple.
14 And they shall put with it all the vessels which they use in the service thereof, that is, the resets of fire, the tongs, and fleshhooks, and other hooks, and the censers, or the pans of coals; they shall cover all the vessels of the altar (al)together in a veil of jacinthine skins, and they shall lead in the bearing staves. (And they shall put on the altar all the vessels which they use in its service, that is, the fire receptacles, the tongs, and fleshhooks, and other hooks, and the censers, or the pans, for the coal; and they shall cover all the vessels of the altar with a leather cover, and then put in the carrying bars.)
15 And when Aaron and his sons have wrapped the saintuary, and all [the] vessels thereof, in the moving of tents, then the sons of Kohath shall enter, that they bear the things wrapped, and touch not the vessels of the saintuary, lest they die. These be the burdens of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of [the] bond of peace, (And when Aaron and his sons have wrapped up the sanctuary, and all its vessels, in the moving of the tents, then the sons of Kohath shall enter to carry the things that be wrapped up, but they must not touch the sanctuary vessels, or they shall die/for if they touch them, then they must be put to death. These be the loads for the sons of Kohath in the Tabernacle of the Covenant.)
16 on which Eleazar, the son of Aaron, (the) priest, shall be; to whose care the oil pertaineth (with which) to ordain (the) lanterns, and the incense which is made by craft, and the sacrifice which is offered ever[more], that is, in each day, and the oil of anointing, and whatever thing pertaineth to the adorning of the tabernacle, and of all vessels that be in the saintuary. (And Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the priest, shall be in charge of the oil to fuel the lanterns, and the incense which is made by craft, and the offering which is offered forevermore, that is, on each day, and the oil of anointing, for he is in charge of whatever pertaineth to the service of the Tabernacle, and of all the vessels that be in the sanctuary.)
17 And the Lord spake to Moses and to Aaron, and said,
18 Do not ye lose, or destroy, the people of Kohath from the midst of the Levites; (Do not ye allow the people of Kohath to be done away from the midst of the Levites;)
19 but do ye this thing to them, that they live, and die not, if they touch the holy of holy things. Aaron and his sons shall enter, and they shall dispose the works of all the sons of Kohath, and they shall part (to each) what who oughteth to bear. (but do ye this thing for them, so that they shall live, and not die, when they approach the most holy things. Aaron and his sons shall enter, and they shall direct the works of all the sons of Kohath, and they shall assign to each what he ought to carry.)

Numbers 4:9-19 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.

Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.