Numbers 4:14

14 and they shall put on it all the utensils of the altar, which are used for the service there, the firepans, the forks, the shovels, and the basins, all the utensils of the altar; and they shall spread upon it a covering of goatskin, and shall put in its poles.

Numbers 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 ) .

Numbers 4:14 In-Context

12 and they shall take all the vessels of the service which are used in the sanctuary, and put them in a cloth of blue, and cover them with a covering of goatskin, and put them on the carrying frame.
13 And they shall take away the ashes from the altar, and spread a purple cloth over it;
14 and they shall put on it all the utensils of the altar, which are used for the service there, the firepans, the forks, the shovels, and the basins, all the utensils of the altar; and they shall spread upon it a covering of goatskin, and shall put in its poles.
15 And when Aaron and his sons have finished covering the sanctuary and all the furnishings of the sanctuary, as the camp sets out, after that the sons of Kohath shall come to carry these, but they must not touch the holy things, lest they die. These are the things of the tent of meeting which the sons of Kohath are to carry.
16 "And Elea'zar the son of Aaron the priest shall have charge of the oil for the light, the fragrant incense, the continual cereal offering, and the anointing oil, with the oversight of all the tabernacle and all that is in it, of the sanctuary and its vessels."
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.