Bible Commentaries
Numbers 4

Verse 3

4:3 From {a} thirty years old and upward even until fifty years old, all that enter into the host, to do the work in the tabernacle of the congregation.

(a) The Levites were counted at three times, first at a month old when they were consecrated to the Lord, next at 25 years old when they were appointed to serve in the tabernacle, and 30 years old to bear the burdens of the tabernacle.

Verse 5

4:5 And when the camp setteth forward, Aaron shall come, and his sons, and they shall take down the {b} covering vail, and cover the ark of testimony with it:

(b) Which divided the sanctuary from the holiest of holies.

Verse 6

4:6 And shall put thereon the covering of badgers’ skins, and shall spread over [it] a cloth wholly of blue, and shall put in {c} the staves thereof.

(c) That is, put them on their shoulders to carry it: for the bars of the ark could never be removed.

Verse 7

4:7 And upon the table of shewbread they shall spread a cloth of blue, and put thereon the dishes, and the spoons, and the bowls, and covers to cover {d} withal: and the continual bread shall be thereon:

(d) Meaning, to cover the bread.

Verse 10

4:10 And they shall put it and all the vessels thereof within a covering of badgers’ skins, and shall put [it] upon a {e} bar.

(e) The Hebrew word signifies an instrument made of two staves or bars.

Verse 11

4:11 And upon the golden {f} altar they shall spread a cloth of blue, and cover it with a covering of badgers’ skins, and shall put to the staves thereof:

(f) Which was to burn incense, read Exodus 30:1.

Verse 13

4:13 And they shall take away the ashes from the {g} altar, and spread a purple cloth thereon:

(g) Of the burnt offering.

Verse 15

4:15 And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the {h} sanctuary, and all the vessels of the sanctuary, as the camp is to set forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear [it]: but they shall not {i} touch [any] holy thing, lest they die. These [things are] the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation.

(h) That is, in folding up the things of the sanctuary, as the ark, etc.

(i) Before it is covered.

Verse 16

4:16 And to the office of Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest [pertaineth] the oil for the light, and the sweet incense, and the {k} daily meat offering, and the anointing oil, [and] the oversight of all the tabernacle, and of all that therein [is], in the sanctuary, and in the vessels thereof.

(k) Which was offered at morning and evening.

Verse 18

4:18 {l} Cut ye not off the tribe of the families of the Kohathites from among the Levites:

(l) Committing by your negligence that the holy things are not well wrapped, causing them to perish by touching it.

Verse 19

4:19 But thus do unto them, that they may live, and not die, when they approach unto the most holy things: Aaron and his sons shall go in, and appoint {m} them every one to his service and to his burden:

(m) Showing what part every man shall bear.

Verse 23

4:23 From thirty years old and upward until fifty years old shalt thou number them; all that {n} enter in to perform the service, to do the work in the tabernacle of the congregation.

(n) Which were received into the company of those who ministered in the tabernacle of the congregation.

Verse 25

4:25 And they shall bear the curtains of the tabernacle, and the tabernacle of the congregation, his covering, and the covering of the badgers’ skins that [is] above upon it, and the hanging for the {o} door of the tabernacle of the congregation,

(o) Which hung between the sanctuary and the court.

Verse 26

4:26 And the hangings of the court, and the hanging for the door of the gate of the court, {p} which [is] by the tabernacle and by the altar round about, and their cords, and all the instruments of their service, and all that is made for them: so shall they serve.

(p) Which compassed both the tabernacle of the congregation and the altar of burnt offering.

Verse 28

4:28 This [is] the service of the families of the sons of Gershon in the tabernacle of the congregation: and their charge [shall be] under the {q} hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.

(q) Under the charge and oversight.

Verse 32

4:32 And the pillars of the court round about, and their sockets, and their pins, and their cords, with all their instruments, and with all their service: and by {r} name ye shall reckon the instruments of the charge of their burden.

(r) You shall take inventory of all the things, which you commit to their charge.

Verse 37

4:37 These [were] they that were numbered of the families of the Kohathites, all that might do service in the tabernacle of the congregation, which Moses and Aaron did number according to the commandment of the LORD by the {s} hand of Moses.

(s) God appointing Moses to be the minister and executor of it.

Verse 41

4:41 These [are] they that were numbered of the families of the sons of Gershon, of all that {t} might do service in the tabernacle of the congregation, whom Moses and Aaron did number according to the commandment of the LORD.

(t) Which were of eligible age to serve in it, that is between 30 and 50.

Verse 47

4:47 From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every one that came to do {u} the service of the ministry, and the service of the burden in the tabernacle of the congregation,

(u) Whoever of the Levites that had any charge in the tabernacle.

Verse 49

4:49 According to the commandment of the LORD they were numbered by the hand of Moses, every one according to his service, and according to his burden: thus were they numbered of him, as the LORD commanded {x} Moses.

(x) So that Moses neither added, nor diminished from that which the Lord commanded him.