Numbers 4

1 locutusque est Dominus ad Mosen et Aaron dicens

2 tolle summam filiorum Caath de medio Levitarum per domos et familias suas

3 a tricesimo anno et supra usque ad quinquagesimum annum omnium qui ingrediuntur ut stent et ministrent in tabernaculo foederis

4 hic est cultus filiorum Caath tabernaculum foederis et sanctum sanctorum

5 ingredientur Aaron et filii eius quando movenda sunt castra et deponent velum quod pendet ante fores involventque eo arcam testimonii

6 et operient rursum velamine ianthinarum pellium extendentque desuper pallium totum hyacinthinum et inducent vectes

7 mensam quoque propositionis involvent hyacinthino pallio et ponent cum ea turibula et mortariola cyatos et crateras ad liba fundenda panes semper in ea erunt

8 extendentque desuper pallium coccineum quod rursum operient velamento ianthinarum pellium et inducent vectes

9 sument et pallium hyacinthinum quo operient candelabrum cum lucernis et forcipibus suis et emunctoriis et cunctis vasis olei quae ad concinnandas lucernas necessaria sunt

10 et super omnia ponent operimentum ianthinarum pellium et inducent vectes

11 nec non et altare aureum involvent hyacinthino vestimento et extendent desuper operimentum ianthinarum pellium inducentque vectes

12 omnia vasa quibus ministratur in sanctuario involvent hyacinthino pallio et extendent desuper operimentum ianthinarum pellium inducentque vectes

13 sed et altare mundabunt cinere et involvent illud purpureo vestimento

14 ponentque cum eo omnia vasa quibus in ministerio eius utuntur id est ignium receptacula fuscinulas ac tridentes uncinos et vatilla cuncta vasa altaris operient simul velamine ianthinarum pellium et inducent vectes

15 cumque involverint Aaron et filii eius sanctuarium et omnia vasa eius in commotione castrorum tunc intrabunt filii Caath ut portent involuta et non tangant vasa sanctuarii ne moriantur ista sunt onera filiorum Caath in tabernaculo foederis

16 super quos erit Eleazar filius Aaron sacerdotis ad cuius pertinet curam oleum ad concinnandas lucernas et conpositionis incensum et sacrificium quod semper offertur et oleum unctionis et quicquid ad cultum tabernaculi pertinet omniumque vasorum quae in sanctuario sunt

17 locutusque est Dominus ad Mosen et Aaron dicens

18 nolite perdere populum Caath de medio Levitarum

19 sed hoc facite eis ut vivant et non moriantur si tetigerint sancta sanctorum Aaron et filii eius intrabunt ipsique disponent opera singulorum et divident quid portare quis debeat

20 alii nulla curiositate videant quae sunt in sanctuario priusquam involvantur alioquin morientur

21 locutus est Dominus ad Mosen dicens

22 tolle summam etiam filiorum Gerson per domos ac familias et cognationes suas

23 a triginta annis et supra usque ad annos quinquaginta numera omnes qui ingrediuntur et ministrant in tabernaculo foederis

24 hoc est officium familiae Gersonitarum

25 ut portent cortinas tabernaculi et tectum foederis operimentum aliud et super omnia velamen ianthinum tentoriumque quod pendet in introitu foederis tabernaculi

26 cortinas atrii et velum in introitu quod est ante tabernaculum omnia quae ad altare pertinent funiculos et vasa ministerii

27 iubente Aaron et filiis eius portabunt filii Gerson et scient singuli cui debeant oneri mancipari

28 hic est cultus familiae Gersonitarum in tabernaculo foederis eruntque sub manu Ithamar filii Aaron sacerdotis

29 filios quoque Merari per familias et domos patrum suorum recensebis

30 a triginta annis et supra usque ad annos quinquaginta omnes qui ingrediuntur ad officium ministerii sui et cultum foederis testimonii

31 haec sunt onera eorum portabunt tabulas tabernaculi et vectes eius columnas et bases earum

32 columnas quoque atrii per circuitum cum basibus et paxillis et funibus suis omnia vasa et supellectilem ad numerum accipient sicque portabunt

33 hoc est officium familiae Meraritarum et ministerium in tabernaculo foederis eruntque sub manu Ithamar filii Aaron sacerdotis

34 recensuerunt igitur Moses et Aaron et principes synagogae filios Caath per cognationes et domos patrum suorum

35 a triginta annis et supra usque ad annum quinquagesimum omnes qui ingrediuntur ad ministerium tabernaculi foederis

36 et inventi sunt duo milia septingenti quinquaginta

37 hic est numerus populi Caath qui intrat tabernaculum foederis hos numeravit Moses et Aaron iuxta sermonem Domini per manum Mosi

38 numerati sunt et filii Gerson per cognationes et domos patrum suorum

39 a triginta annis et supra usque ad annum quinquagesimum omnes qui ingrediuntur ut ministrent in tabernaculo foederis

40 et inventi sunt duo milia sescenti triginta

41 hic est populus Gersonitarum quos numeraverunt Moses et Aaron iuxta verbum Domini

42 numerati sunt et filii Merari per cognationes et domos patrum suorum

43 a triginta annis et supra usque ad annum quinquagesimum omnes qui ingrediuntur ad explendos ritus tabernaculi foederis

44 et inventi sunt tria milia ducenti

45 hic est numerus filiorum Merari quos recensuerunt Moses et Aaron iuxta imperium Domini per manum Mosi

46 omnes qui recensiti sunt de Levitis et quos fecit ad nomen Moses et Aaron et principes Israhel per cognationes et domos patrum suorum

47 a triginta annis et supra usque ad annum quinquagesimum ingredientes ad ministerium tabernaculi et onera portanda

48 fuerunt simul octo milia quingenti octoginta

49 iuxta verbum Domini recensuit eos Moses unumquemque iuxta officium et onera sua sicut praeceperat ei Dominus

Numbers 4 Commentary

Chapter 4

The Levites' service. (1-3) The duties of the Kohathites. (4-20) The duties of the Gershonites and Merarites. (21-33) The numbers of the serviceable Levites. (34-49)

Verses 1-3 The middle-aged men of the tribe of Levi, all from thirty years old to fifty, were to be employed in the service of the tabernacle. The service of God requires the best of our strength, and the prime portion of our time, which cannot be better spent than to the honour of Him who is the First and Best. And the service of God should be done when we are most lively and active. Those do not consider this who put off repentance to old age, and so leave the best work to be done in the worst time.

Verses 4-20 The Kohathites were to carry the holy things of the tabernacle. All the holy things were to be covered; not only for security and respect, but to keep them from being seen. This not only marked the reverence due to holy things, but the mystery of the things signified by those types, and the darkness of the dispensation. But now, through Christ, the case is altered, and we are encouraged to come boldly to the throne of grace.

Verses 21-33 We have here the charge of the other two families of the Levites, which, though not so honourable as the first, yet was necessary, and to be done regularly. All the things were delivered them by name. It intimates the care God takes of his church and every member of it. The death of the saints is ( 2 Corinthians. 5:1 ) ( 2 Peter. 1:14 ) great day, when these vile bodies shall be made like the glorious body of Jesus Christ, and so shall be for ever with the Lord.

Verses 34-49 God so ordered it, that though the Merarites were the fewest in number, yet they should have most able men among them; for whatever service God calls men to, he will furnish them for it, give strength in proportion to the work, and grace sufficient. The least of the tribes had many more able men than the Levites: those who engage in the service of this world, are many more than those devoted to the service of God. May our souls be wholly devoted to his service.

Chapter Summary

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.