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Read the Bible

The Holy Bible, Berean Study Bible

Numbers 3:38

Moses, Aaron, and Aaron's sons were to camp to the east of the tabernacle, toward the sunrise, before the Tent of Meeting. They were to perform the duties of the sanctuary as a service on behalf of the Israelites; but any outsider who approached the sanctuary was to be put to death.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Census;   Levites;   Thompson Chain Reference - Admission, Exclusion;   Exclusion;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Shemaiah;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Levite;   Tabernacle;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Worship;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Camp;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Priest;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Levites;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Job;   Merari, Merarites;   Moses;   Priests and Levites;   Stranger;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Synagogue;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - First-Begotten, First-Born,;   Levites ;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Camp and encamp;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Armies;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Last Days at Sinai;   On to Canaan;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Merari;  

Parallel Translations

Hebrew Names Version
Those who encamp before the tabernacle eastward, in front of the Tent of Meeting toward the sunrise, shall be Moshe, and Aharon and his sons, keeping the charge of the sanctuary for the charge of the children of Yisra'el. The stranger who comes near shall be put to death.
King James Version
But those that encamp before the tabernacle toward the east, even before the tabernacle of the congregation eastward, shall be Moses, and Aaron and his sons, keeping the charge of the sanctuary for the charge of the children of Israel; and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.
Lexham English Bible
Those encamped before the tabernacle to the east—before the tent of assembly to the east—were Moses and Aaron and his sons; they will keep the responsibility of the sanctuary for the Israelites; and the stranger who approaches will be put to death.
New Century Version
Moses, Aaron, and his sons camped east of the Holy Tent, toward the sunrise, in front of the Meeting Tent. They were responsible for the Holy Place for the Israelites. Anyone else who came near the Holy Place was to be put to death.
New English Translation
But those who were to camp in front of the tabernacle on the east, in front of the tent of meeting, were Moses, Aaron, and his sons. They were responsible for the needs of the sanctuary and for the needs of the Israelites, but the unauthorized person who approached was to be put to death.
Amplified Bible
Now those to camp before the tabernacle toward the east, before the Tent of Meeting, toward the sunrise, were to be Moses, and Aaron and his sons, performing the duties of the sanctuary for whatever was required of the Israelites; and the layman (non-Levite) who approached [the sanctuary] was to be put to death.
New American Standard Bible
Now those who were to camp in front of the tabernacle eastward, in front of the tent of meeting toward the sunrise, were Moses and Aaron and his sons, performing the duties of the sanctuary for the obligation of the sons of Israel; but the layman coming near was to be put to death.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Also on the forefront of the Tabernacle toward the East, before the Tabernacle, I say, of the Congregation Eastwarde shal Moses and Aaron and his sonnes pitch, hauing the charge of the Sanctuarie, and the charge of the children of Israel: but the stranger that commeth neere, shall be slayne.
Legacy Standard Bible
Now those who were to camp before the tabernacle eastward, before the tent of meeting toward the sunrise, are Moses and Aaron and his sons, keeping the responsibility of the sanctuary for the responsibility of the sons of Israel; but the outsider coming near was to be put to death.
Contemporary English Version
Moses, Aaron, and his sons were to camp in front of the sacred tent, on the east side, and to make sure that the Israelites worshiped in the proper way. Anyone else who tried to do the work of Moses and Aaron was to be put to death.
Complete Jewish Bible
Those who were to camp in front of the tabernacle on the east, in front of the tent of meeting toward the sunrise, were Moshe, Aharon and his sons who were in charge of the Holy Place. They carried out their responsibility on behalf of the people of Isra'el, and anyone else who involved himself was to be put to death.
Darby Translation
And those who encamped before the tabernacle eastward, before the tent of meeting toward the sunrising, were Moses, and Aaron and his sons, who kept the charge of the sanctuary for the charge of the children of Israel; and the stranger that cometh near shall be put to death.
Easy-to-Read Version
Moses, Aaron, and his sons camped east of the Holy Tent, in front of the Meeting Tent. They were given the work of caring for the Holy Place. They did this for all the Israelites. Anyone else who came near the Holy Place was to be killed.
English Standard Version
Those who were to camp before the tabernacle on the east, before the tent of meeting toward the sunrise, were Moses and Aaron and his sons, guarding the sanctuary itself, to protect the people of Israel. And any outsider who came near was to be put to death.
George Lamsa Translation
But those that encamp before the tabernacle toward the east, even before the tabernacle of the congregation eastward, shall be Moses and Aaron and his sons, keeping the charge of the sanctuary in addition to the charge of the children of Israel; and the stranger who comes near shall be put to death.
Good News Translation
Moses and Aaron and his sons were to camp in front of the Tent on the east. They were responsible for carrying out the services performed in the Holy Place for the people of Israel. Anyone else who tried to do so was to be put to death.
Christian Standard Bible®
Moses, Aaron, and his sons, who performed the duties of the sanctuary as a service on behalf of the Israelites, camped in front of the tabernacle on the east, in front of the tent of meeting toward the sunrise. Any unauthorized person who came near it was to be put to death.
Literal Translation
And those that were to encamp before the tabernacle eastward, before the tabernacle of the congregation, toward the sunrising, were Moses, and Aaron, and his sons, keeping the charge of the sanctuary, and the charge of the sons ofIsrael. And the stranger who goes near shall die.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
But before the Habitacion and before ye Tabernacle on the East syde shal Moses & Aaron & his sonnes pytche, that they maye wayte vpon the Sanctuary, & the children of Israel. Yf eny other preasse therto, he shal dye.
American Standard Version
And those that encamp before the tabernacle eastward, before the tent of meeting toward the sunrising, shall be Moses, and Aaron and his sons, keeping the charge of the sanctuary for the charge of the children of Israel; and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.
Bible in Basic English
And those whose tents are to be placed on the east side of the House in front of the Tent of meeting, looking to the dawn, are Moses and Aaron and his sons, who will do the work of the holy place for the children of Israel; and any strange person who comes near will be put to death.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
But on the forefront of the tabernacle towarde the east, before the tabernacle of the congregation eastwarde, shall Moyses & Aaron and his sonnes, pitche and wayte to kepe the sanctuarie, and to kepe the chyldren of Israel: And the strannger that commeth nye, shalbe slayne.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And those that were to pitch before the tabernacle eastward, before the tent of meeting toward the sunrising, were Moses, and Aaron and his sons, keeping the charge of the sanctuary, even the charge for the children of Israel; and the common man that drew nigh was to be put to death.
King James Version (1611)
But those that encampe before the Tabernacle toward the East, euen before the Tabernacle of the Congregation Eastward, shall be Moses and Aaron, and his sonnes, keeping the charge of the Sanctuary, for the charge of the children of Israel: and the stranger that commeth nigh, shall be put to death.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
They that encamp before the tabernacle of witness on the east shall be Moses and Aaron and his sons, keeping the charges of the sanctuary according to the charges of the children of Israel; and the stranger that touches them, shall die.
English Revised Version
And those that pitch before the tabernacle eastward, before the tent of meeting toward the sunrising, shall be Moses, and Aaron and his sons, keeping the charge of the sanctuary for the charge of the children of Israel; and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Forsothe Moises and Aaron with hise sones schulen sette tentis bifor the tabernacle of boond of pees, that is, at the eest coost, and schulen haue the keping of the seyntuarie, in the myddis of the sones of Israel; what euer alien neiyeth, he schal die.
Young's Literal Translation
And those encamping before the tabernacle eastward, before the tent of meeting, at the east, [are] Moses and Aaron, and his sons, keeping the charge of the sanctuary for the charge of the sons of Israel, and the stranger who cometh near is put to death.
Update Bible Version
And those that encamp before the tabernacle eastward, before the tent of meeting toward the sunrising, shall be Moses, and Aaron and his sons, keeping the charge of the sanctuary for the charge of the sons of Israel; and the stranger that comes near shall be put to death.
Webster's Bible Translation
But those that encamp before the tabernacle towards the east, [even] before the tabernacle of the congregation eastward [shall be] Moses and Aaron, and his sons, keeping the charge of the sanctuary, for the charge of the children of Israel; and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.
World English Bible
Those who encamp before the tabernacle eastward, in front of the Tent of Meeting toward the sunrise, shall be Moses, and Aaron and his sons, keeping the charge of the sanctuary for the charge of the children of Israel. The stranger who comes near shall be put to death.
New King James Version
Moreover those who were to camp before the tabernacle on the east, before the tabernacle of meeting, were Moses, Aaron, and his sons, keeping charge of the sanctuary, to meet the needs of the children of Israel; but the outsider who came near was to be put to death.
New Living Translation
The area in front of the Tabernacle, in the east toward the sunrise, was reserved for the tents of Moses and of Aaron and his sons, who had the final responsibility for the sanctuary on behalf of the people of Israel. Anyone other than a priest or Levite who went too near the sanctuary was to be put to death.
New Life Bible
Moses and Aaron and his sons were to set up their tents on the east side in front of the meeting tent, toward the sunrise. They did the duties of the meeting tent, whatever had to be done for the people of Israel. But the one who came near who was not a religious leader was to be put to death.
New Revised Standard
Those who were to camp in front of the tabernacle on the east—in front of the tent of meeting toward the east—were Moses and Aaron and Aaron's sons, having charge of the rites within the sanctuary, whatever had to be done for the Israelites; and any outsider who came near was to be put to death.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
But, they who were to encamp before the habitation eastwards before the tent of meeting, towards sunrise, were Moses and Aaron and his sons. to keep the charge of the sanctuary, as the charge of the sons of Israel and, the stranger that came near, was to be put to death.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Before the tabernacle of the covenant, that is to say on the east side shall Moses and Aaron camp, with their sons, having the custody of the sanctuary, in the midst of the children of Israel. What stranger soever cometh unto it, shall be put to death.
Revised Standard Version
And those to encamp before the tabernacle on the east, before the tent of meeting toward the sunrise, were Moses and Aaron and his sons, having charge of the rites within the sanctuary, whatever had to be done for the people of Israel; and any one else who came near was to be put to death.
THE MESSAGE
Moses and Aaron and his sons camped to the east of The Dwelling, toward the rising sun, in front of the Tent of Meeting. They were in charge of maintaining the Sanctuary for the People of Israel and the rituals of worship. Anyone else who tried to perform these duties was to be put to death.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Now those who were to camp before the tabernacle eastward, before the tent of meeting toward the sunrise, are Moses and Aaron and his sons, performing the duties of the sanctuary for the obligation of the sons of Israel; but the layman coming near was to be put to death.

Contextual Overview

14Then the LORD spoke to Moses in the Wilderness of Sinai, saying, 15"Register the Levites by their families and clans. You are to count every male a month old or more." 16So Moses numbered them according to the word of the LORD, as he had been commanded. 17These were the sons of Levi by name: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. 18These were the names of the sons of Gershon by their clans: Libni and Shimei. 19The sons of Kohath by their clans were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. 20And the sons of Merari by their clans were Mahli and Mushi. These were the clans of the Levites, according to their families. 21From Gershon came the Libnite clan and the Shimeite clan; these were the Gershonite clans. 22The number of all the males a month old or more was 7,500. 23The Gershonite clans were to camp on the west, behind the tabernacle,

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

toward: Numbers 3:23, Numbers 3:29, Numbers 3:35, Numbers 1:53, Numbers 2:3

keeping: Numbers 3:10, Numbers 18:1-5, 1 Chronicles 6:48, 1 Chronicles 6:49

for the charge: Numbers 3:7, Numbers 3:8, Numbers 3:10

Reciprocal: Exodus 29:33 - a stranger Numbers 1:51 - the stranger Numbers 2:17 - tabernacle Numbers 4:15 - they shall Numbers 16:40 - that no Numbers 18:7 - the stranger Numbers 18:22 - come nigh 1 Chronicles 23:32 - the charge of the sons 2 Chronicles 23:7 - whosoever Ezekiel 40:45 - the keepers

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And those that encamp before the tabernacle toward the east,.... At which was the entrance into the tabernacle:

[even] before the tabernacle of the congregation eastward; that is, before the court of the tabernacle, where the people assembled together:

[shall be] Moses, Aaron, and his sons; Moses the chief ruler, and Aaron the high priest, and his sons priests under him; these had the most honourable place of all, beings at the front of the tabernacle, between that and the camp of Judah. There is an extraordinary prick on the word Aaron, to show, as Jarchi says, that he was not in the number of Levites, though of the tribe of Levi, being high priest:

keeping the charge of the sanctuary, for the charge of the children of Israel; either in their room and stead, which otherwise they must have kept; or rather for their safety and security, keeping out all persons from entering into the sanctuary, who had no business there, that they died not, as it follows:

and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death; that is, whoever came nigh to enter into the holy place, and did, who was no priest, though an Israelite, and even a Levite, or into the most holy place, excepting the high priest, it was death unto him, either by the civil magistrate, or by the hand of heaven; so the Targum of Jonathan.


 
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