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<a href="/numbers/3-28.htm" title="In the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, were eight thousand and six hundred, keeping the charge of the sanctuary.">Numbers 3:28</a>; <a href="/numbers/3-34.htm" title="And those that were numbered of them, according to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, were six thousand and two hundred.">Numbers 3:34</a> the numbers of the Levites have already been ascertained, but in <a href="/numbers/4-2.htm" title="Take the sum of the sons of Kohath from among the sons of Levi, after their families, by the house of their fathers,">Numbers 4:2</a>; <a href="/numbers/4-22.htm" title="Take also the sum of the sons of Gershon, throughout the houses of their fathers, by their families;">Numbers 4:22</a>; <a href="/numbers/4-29.htm" title="As for the sons of Merari, you shall number them after their families, by the house of their fathers;">Numbers 4:29</a> Moses is commanded to number those who are of age for service. Chs. 3 and 4 may be the work of different writers; and the greater elaboration of detail in 4 suggests that it is the later of the two.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span> <div class="versenum"><a href="/numbers/4-1.htm">Numbers 4:1</a></div><div class="verse">And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,</div><span class="bld">1–20</span>. The Kohathites and their duties.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><A name="2"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/numbers/4-2.htm">Numbers 4:2</a></div><div class="verse">Take the sum of the sons of Kohath from among the sons of Levi, after their families, by the house of their fathers,</div><A name="3"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/numbers/4-3.htm">Numbers 4:3</a></div><div class="verse">From 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.</div><span class="bld">3</span>. The period of active service for the Levites is here laid down as between 30–50 years of age. But in <a href="/context/numbers/8-23.htm" title="And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,...">Numbers 8:23-26</a> it is between 25–50, though certain duties might be performed after that age. And in <a href="/1_chronicles/23-24.htm" title="These were the sons of Levi after the house of their fathers; even the chief of the fathers, as they were counted by number of names by their polls, that did the work for the service of the house of the LORD, from the age of twenty years and upward.">1 Chronicles 23:24</a>; <a href="/1_chronicles/23-27.htm" title="For by the last words of David the Levites were numbered from twenty years old and above:">1 Chronicles 23:27</a>, <a href="/2_chronicles/31-17.htm" title="Both to the genealogy of the priests by the house of their fathers, and the Levites from twenty years old and upward, in their charges by their courses;">2 Chronicles 31:17</a>, <a href="/ezra/3-8.htm" title="Now in the second year of their coming to the house of God at Jerusalem, in the second month, began Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and the remnant of their brothers the priests and the Levites, and all they that were come out of the captivity to Jerusalem; and appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to set forward the work of the house of the LORD.">Ezra 3:8</a> it begins at 20, and there is no upward limit of age. The statements appear to represent the customs that were current at three different periods.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="ital">the service</span>] This unusual meaning of the word which generally denotes ‘warfare’ or ‘host’ (R.V. marg.) is found again five times in this chapter (<span class="ital"><a href="/numbers/4-23.htm" title="From thirty years old and upward until fifty years old shall you number them; all that enter in to perform the service, to do the work in the tabernacle of the congregation.">Numbers 4:23</a>; <a href="/numbers/4-30.htm" title="From thirty years old and upward even to fifty years old shall you number them, every one that enters into the service, to do the work of the tabernacle of the congregation.">Numbers 4:30</a>; <a href="/numbers/4-35.htm" title="From thirty years old and upward even to fifty years old, every one that enters into the service, for the work in the tabernacle of the congregation:">Numbers 4:35</a>; <a href="/numbers/4-39.htm" title="From thirty years old and upward even to fifty years old, every one that enters into the service, for the work in the tabernacle of the congregation,">Numbers 4:39</a>; <a href="/numbers/4-43.htm" title="From thirty years old and upward even to fifty years old, every one that enters into the service, for the work in the tabernacle of the congregation,">Numbers 4:43</a></span>), and elsewhere only in <a href="/numbers/8-24.htm" title="This is it that belongs to the Levites: from twenty and five years old and upward they shall go in to wait on the service of the tabernacle of the congregation:">Numbers 8:24</a> f., and of women in two very late passages, <a href="/exodus/38-8.htm" title="And he made the laver of brass, and the foot of it of brass, of the mirrors of the women assembling, which assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.">Exodus 38:8</a>, <a href="/1_samuel/2-22.htm" title="Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did to all Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.">1 Samuel 2:22</a>. It perhaps implies that the Levites formed an organized body appointed for God’s work under the command of superior officials, as were the rest of Israel who were numbered for war.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><A name="4"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/numbers/4-4.htm">Numbers 4:4</a></div><div class="verse">This <i>shall be</i> the service of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation, <i>about</i> the most holy things:</div><span class="bld">4</span>. <span class="ital">the most holy things</span>] The furniture and utensils of the Dwelling, enumerated in <span class="ital"><a href="/context/numbers/4-5.htm" title="And when the camp sets forward, Aaron shall come, and his sons, and they shall take down the covering veil, and cover the ark of testimony with it:...">Numbers 4:5-14</a></span>. The ‘service of the sons of Kohath’ is not stated till <span class="ital"><a href="/numbers/4-15.htm" title="And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the 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 touch any holy thing, lest they die. These things are the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation.">Numbers 4:15</a></span> b. Before they could perform their duty of carrying the sacred objects the priests must cover them up, that the Levites may neither touch (<span class="ital"><a href="/numbers/4-15.htm" title="And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the 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 touch any holy thing, lest they die. These things are the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation.">Numbers 4:15</a></span>) nor see them (<span class="ital"><a href="/numbers/4-20.htm" title="But they shall not go in to see when the holy things are covered, lest they die.">Numbers 4:20</a></span>).<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><A name="5"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/numbers/4-5.htm">Numbers 4:5</a></div><div class="verse">And when the camp setteth forward, Aaron shall come, and his sons, and they shall take down the covering vail, and cover the ark of testimony with it:</div><span class="bld">5–14</span>. When finally ready for the march the burden of the Kohathites would be seen simply as six large packages as follows.—(i) The <span class="ital">Ark</span> (<span class="ital"><a href="/numbers/4-5.htm" title="And when the camp sets forward, Aaron shall come, and his sons, and they shall take down the covering veil, and cover the ark of testimony with it:">Numbers 4:5</a></span> f.), covered with the ‘veil of the screen’ (see on <a href="/numbers/3-31.htm" title="And their charge shall be the ark, and the table, and the candlestick, and the altars, and the vessels of the sanctuary with which they minister, and the hanging, and all the service thereof.">Numbers 3:31</a>), and a water-proof covering of dugong skin, and over this a <span class="bld">violet</span> cloth. It was carried by the staves, or <span class="bld">poles</span>, with which it was furnished for the purpose of transport (<a href="/exodus/25-14.htm" title="And you shall put the staves into the rings by the sides of the ark, that the ark may be borne with them.">Exodus 25:14</a>). The Ark is the only piece of furniture that has a coloured cloth over the water-proof covering; this would make it a conspicuous object on the march, (ii) The <span class="ital">Table of the Presence Bread</span> (<span class="ital"><a href="/numbers/4-7.htm" title="And on the table of show bread they shall spread a cloth of blue, and put thereon the dishes, and the spoons, and the bowls, and covers to cover with: and the continual bread shall be thereon:">Numbers 4:7</a></span> f., see note), covered with a violet cloth upon which all the utensils and the loaves are placed, and the whole covered with a <span class="bld">scarlet</span> cloth, and that with the dugong skin; like the Ark it was carried by poles, (iii) The <span class="ital">Lampstand</span> and all its utensils (<span class="ital"><a href="/numbers/4-9.htm" title="And they shall take a cloth of blue, and cover the candlestick of the light, and his lamps, and his tongs, and his firepans, and all the oil vessels thereof, with which they minister to it:">Numbers 4:9</a></span> f.), covered with violet cloth and dugong skin, and carried by means of a bar. (iv) The <span class="ital">Golden Altar of Incense</span> (<span class="ital"><a href="/numbers/4-11.htm" title="And on the golden altar they shall spread a cloth of blue, and cover it with a covering of badgers' skins, and shall put to the staves thereof:">Numbers 4:11</a></span>), covered with violet cloth and dugong skin and carried by its poles. (v) The <span class="ital">miscellaneous utensils</span> (<span class="ital"><a href="/numbers/4-12.htm" title="And they shall take all the instruments of ministry, with which they minister in the sanctuary, and put them in a cloth of blue, and cover them with a covering of badgers' skins, and shall put them on a bar:">Numbers 4:12</a></span>) not actually belonging to any piece of furniture, covered with violet cloth and dugong skin and carried by means of a bar. (vi) The <span class="ital">Altar of Burnt-offering</span> (<span class="ital"><a href="/numbers/4-13.htm" title="And they shall take away the ashes from the altar, and spread a purple cloth thereon:">Numbers 4:13</a></span> f.), covered with a <span class="bld">crimson</span> cloth upon which all the utensils belonging to it are placed, and the whole covered with dugong skin and carried by its poles.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span>The reason for the additional scarlet cloth over the Table is unknown. The use of cloth of a different colour in the case of the Altar of Burnt-offering may have been because the Altar belonged to a lower grade of sanctity since it stood outside the Dwelling. For a description of the various articles see notes on <a href="/context/exodus/25-1.htm" title="And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,...">Exodus 25:1-40</a>; <a href="/context/exodus/27-1.htm" title="And you shall make an altar of shittim wood, five cubits long, and five cubits broad; the altar shall be foursquare: and the height thereof shall be three cubits....">Exodus 27:1-8</a>; <a href="/context/exodus/30-1.htm" title="And you shall make an altar to burn incense on: of shittim wood shall you make it....">Exodus 30:1-5</a>.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><A name="6"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/numbers/4-6.htm">Numbers 4:6</a></div><div class="verse">And shall put thereon the covering of badgers' skins, and shall spread over <i>it</i> a cloth wholly of blue, and shall put in the staves thereof.</div><A name="7"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/numbers/4-7.htm">Numbers 4:7</a></div><div class="verse">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 withal: and the continual bread shall be thereon:</div><span class="bld">7</span>. <span class="ital">shewbread</span>] <span class="bld">Presence-bread</span>, i.e. bread that is placed in the divine Presence. <a href="/1_samuel/21-6.htm" title="So the priest gave him hallowed bread: for there was no bread there but the show bread, that was taken from before the LORD, to put hot bread in the day when it was taken away.">1 Samuel 21:6</a> is evidence that the practice was observed in early times. It was probably a relic of the primitive heathen notion that gods actually partook of bread that was offered to them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="ital">the continual bread</span>] The expression is not found elsewhere. Cf. ‘continual meal-offering’ (<span class="ital"><a href="/numbers/4-16.htm" title="And to the office of Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest pertains the oil for the light, and the sweet incense, and the 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.">Numbers 4:16</a></span>, <a href="/nehemiah/10-33.htm" title="For the show bread, and for the continual meat offering, and for the continual burnt offering, of the sabbaths, of the new moons, for the set feasts, and for the holy things, and for the sin offerings to make an atonement for Israel, and for all the work of the house of our God.">Nehemiah 10:33</a> only), ‘continual [R.V. perpetual] incense’ (<a href="/exodus/30-8.htm" title="And when Aaron lights the lamps at even, he shall burn incense on it, a perpetual incense before the LORD throughout your generations.">Exodus 30:8</a> (P )), and frequently ‘continual burnt-offering’ (Numbers 28, 29). It connotes the regularity with which a ritual act is performed at stated intervals.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span>The bread also came to be known as <span class="ital">pile bread</span> (R.V. ‘shewbread,’ <a href="/1_chronicles/9-32.htm" title="And other of their brothers, of the sons of the Kohathites, were over the show bread, to prepare it every sabbath.">1 Chronicles 9:32</a>; <a href="/1_chronicles/23-29.htm" title="Both for the show bread, and for the fine flour for meat offering, and for the unleavened cakes, and for that which is baked in the pan, and for that which is fried, and for all manner of measure and size;">1 Chronicles 23:29</a>, <a href="/nehemiah/10-33.htm" title="For the show bread, and for the continual meat offering, and for the continual burnt offering, of the sabbaths, of the new moons, for the set feasts, and for the holy things, and for the sin offerings to make an atonement for Israel, and for all the work of the house of our God.">Nehemiah 10:33</a>) owing to the arrangement of the loaves in two piles (<a href="/leviticus/24-6.htm" title="And you shall set them in two rows, six on a row, on the pure table before the LORD.">Leviticus 24:6</a>, R.V. marg.). And since the root of the word <span class="greekheb">מֲערֶכֶת</span> (‘pile’) denotes to ‘set out’ or ‘arrange’ [a meal], the name appears in the N.T. as <span class="greekheb">ἄρτοι τῆς προθέσεως</span> (lit. ‘bread of the setting out,’ <a href="/matthew/12-4.htm" title="How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the show bread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests?">Matthew 12:4</a>, <a href="/mark/2-26.htm" title="How he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and did eat the show bread, which is not lawful to eat but for the priests, and gave also to them which were with him?">Mark 2:26</a>, <a href="/luke/6-4.htm" title="How he went into the house of God, and did take and eat the show bread, and gave also to them that were with him; which it is not lawful to eat but for the priests alone?">Luke 6:4</a>) and <span class="greekheb">ἡ πρόθεσις τῶν ἄρτων</span> (lit. ‘the setting out of the loaves,’ <a href="/hebrews/9-2.htm" title="For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the show bread; which is called the sanctuary.">Hebrews 9:2</a>).<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><A name="8"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/numbers/4-8.htm">Numbers 4:8</a></div><div class="verse">And they shall spread upon them a cloth of scarlet, and cover the same with a covering of badgers' skins, and shall put in the staves thereof.</div><A name="9"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/numbers/4-9.htm">Numbers 4:9</a></div><div class="verse">And they shall take a cloth of blue, and cover the candlestick of the light, and his lamps, and his tongs, and his snuffdishes, and all the oil vessels thereof, wherewith they minister unto it:</div><A name="10"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/numbers/4-10.htm">Numbers 4:10</a></div><div class="verse">And they shall put it and all the vessels thereof within a covering of badgers' skins, and shall put <i>it</i> upon a bar.</div><A name="11"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/numbers/4-11.htm">Numbers 4:11</a></div><div class="verse">And upon the golden altar they shall spread a cloth of blue, and cover it with a covering of badgers' skins, and shall put to the staves thereof:</div><A name="12"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/numbers/4-12.htm">Numbers 4:12</a></div><div class="verse">And they shall take all the instruments of ministry, wherewith they minister in the sanctuary, and put <i>them</i> in a cloth of blue, and cover them with a covering of badgers' skins, and shall put <i>them</i> on a bar:</div><A name="13"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/numbers/4-13.htm">Numbers 4:13</a></div><div class="verse">And they shall take away the ashes from the altar, and spread a purple cloth thereon:</div><A name="14"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/numbers/4-14.htm">Numbers 4:14</a></div><div class="verse">And they shall put upon it all the vessels thereof, wherewith they minister about it, <i>even</i> the censers, the fleshhooks, and the shovels, and the basons, all the vessels of the altar; and they shall spread upon it a covering of badgers' skins, and put to the staves of it.</div><A name="15"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/numbers/4-15.htm">Numbers 4:15</a></div><div class="verse">And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the 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 <i>it</i>: but they shall not touch <i>any</i> holy thing, lest they die. These <i>things are</i> the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation.</div><span class="bld">15</span>. <span class="ital">they shall not touch the sanctuary</span>] Better <span class="ital">the</span> <span class="bld">holy things</span>, as in R.V. marg. The Heb. word is strictly a singular abstract substantive, ‘the sacredness,’ which is here employed to denote the whole collection of sacred objects.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><A name="16"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/numbers/4-16.htm">Numbers 4:16</a></div><div class="verse">And to the office of Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest <i>pertaineth</i> the oil for the light, and the sweet incense, and the daily meat offering, and the anointing oil, <i>and</i> the oversight of all the tabernacle, and of all that therein <i>is</i>, in the sanctuary, and in the vessels thereof.</div><span class="bld">16</span>. Eleazar superintends the Kohathites, and has personal charge of the oil for the light (<a href="/exodus/27-20.htm" title="And you shall command the children of Israel, that they bring you pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always.">Exodus 27:20</a>), the ‘incense of sweet spices’ (<a href="/exodus/25-6.htm" title="Oil for the light, spices for anointing oil, and for sweet incense,">Exodus 25:6</a>; <a href="/context/exodus/30-34.htm" title="And the LORD said to Moses, Take to you sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum; these sweet spices with pure frankincense: of each shall there be a like weight:...">Exodus 30:34-38</a>), the ‘continual meal-offering,’ and the anointing oil (<a href="/context/exodus/30-22.htm" title="Moreover the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,...">Exodus 30:22-33</a>).<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><A name="17"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/numbers/4-17.htm">Numbers 4:17</a></div><div class="verse">And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,</div><A name="18"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/numbers/4-18.htm">Numbers 4:18</a></div><div class="verse">Cut ye not off the tribe of the families of the Kohathites from among the Levites:</div><A name="19"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/numbers/4-19.htm">Numbers 4:19</a></div><div class="verse">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 them every one to his service and to his burden:</div><A name="20"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/numbers/4-20.htm">Numbers 4:20</a></div><div class="verse">But they shall not go in to see when the holy things are covered, lest they die.</div><A name="21"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/numbers/4-21.htm">Numbers 4:21</a></div><div class="verse">And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,</div><span class="bld">21–28</span>. The Gershonites and their duties.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span>They carry (in wagons <a href="/numbers/7-7.htm" title="Two wagons and four oxen he gave to the sons of Gershon, according to their service:">Numbers 7:7</a>) all the hangings and coverings of which the Dwelling and the court are composed.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><A name="22"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/numbers/4-22.htm">Numbers 4:22</a></div><div class="verse">Take also the sum of the sons of Gershon, throughout the houses of their fathers, by their families;</div><A name="23"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/numbers/4-23.htm">Numbers 4:23</a></div><div class="verse">From thirty years old and upward until fifty years old shalt thou number them; all that enter in to perform the service, to do the work in the tabernacle of the congregation.</div><A name="24"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/numbers/4-24.htm">Numbers 4:24</a></div><div class="verse">This <i>is</i> the service of the families of the Gershonites, to serve, and for burdens:</div><A name="25"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/numbers/4-25.htm">Numbers 4:25</a></div><div class="verse">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 <i>is</i> above upon it, and the hanging for the door of the tabernacle of the congregation,</div><A name="26"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/numbers/4-26.htm">Numbers 4:26</a></div><div class="verse">And the hangings of the court, and the hanging for the door of the gate of the court, which <i>is</i> 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.</div><span class="bld">26</span>. <span class="ital">whatsoever shall be done with them</span>] <span class="bld">all that may have to be done with regard to them</span>; e.g. the undoing of the hooks and loops, the rolling up of the strips of curtain and so on.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><A name="27"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/numbers/4-27.htm">Numbers 4:27</a></div><div class="verse">At the appointment of Aaron and his sons shall be all the service of the sons of the Gershonites, in all their burdens, and in all their service: and ye shall appoint unto them in charge all their burdens.</div><span class="bld">27</span>. <span class="ital">ye shall appoint</span>] The subject is apparently Moses and Aaron. LXX. (perhaps rightly) has a singular verb referring to Moses alone.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="ital">in charge</span>] Perhaps, with LXX. , read <span class="bld">by name</span> (<span class="greekheb">בְּשֵׁמֹת</span> for <span class="greekheb">בְּמִשְׁמֶרֶת</span>) as in <span class="ital"><a href="/numbers/4-32.htm" title="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 name you shall reckon the instruments of the charge of their burden.">Numbers 4:32</a></span>.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><A name="28"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/numbers/4-28.htm">Numbers 4:28</a></div><div class="verse">This <i>is</i> the service of the families of the sons of Gershon in the tabernacle of the congregation: and their charge <i>shall be</i> under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.</div><span class="bld">28</span>. Ithamar superintends both the Gershonites and the Merarites (<span class="ital"><a href="/numbers/4-33.htm" title="This is the service of the families of the sons of Merari, according to all their service, in the tabernacle of the congregation, under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.">Numbers 4:33</a></span>).<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><A name="29"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/numbers/4-29.htm">Numbers 4:29</a></div><div class="verse">As for the sons of Merari, thou shalt number them after their families, by the house of their fathers;</div><span class="bld">29–33</span>. The Merarites and their duties.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span>They carry (in wagons <a href="/numbers/7-8.htm" title="And four wagons and eight oxen he gave to the sons of Merari, according to their service, under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.">Numbers 7:8</a>) the wooden framework of the Dwelling, and everything else of wood—bars, pillars and pins (or rather <span class="bld">pegs</span>)—the silver <span class="bld">bases</span> (R.V. ‘sockets’) of the framework and the bronze bases of the pillars of the court.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><A name="30"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/numbers/4-30.htm">Numbers 4:30</a></div><div class="verse">From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old shalt thou number them, every one that entereth into the service, to do the work of the tabernacle of the congregation.</div><A name="31"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/numbers/4-31.htm">Numbers 4:31</a></div><div class="verse">And this <i>is</i> the charge of their burden, according to all their service in the tabernacle of the congregation; the boards of the tabernacle, and the bars thereof, and the pillars thereof, and sockets thereof,</div><A name="32"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/numbers/4-32.htm">Numbers 4:32</a></div><div class="verse">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 name ye shall reckon the instruments of the charge of their burden.</div><span class="bld">32</span>. <span class="ital">the instruments of the charge of their burden</span>] i.e. <span class="ital">the</span> <span class="bld">articles committed to their charge to carry.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span></span><A name="33"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/numbers/4-33.htm">Numbers 4:33</a></div><div class="verse">This <i>is</i> the service of the families of the sons of Merari, according to all their service, in the tabernacle of the congregation, under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.</div><A name="34"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/numbers/4-34.htm">Numbers 4:34</a></div><div class="verse">And Moses and Aaron and the chief of the congregation numbered the sons of the Kohathites after their families, and after the house of their fathers,</div><span class="bld">34–49.</span> A detailed statement that Moses and Aaron numbered the men between the ages of 30 and 50 in the three Levitical families, as had been commanded.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><A name="35"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/numbers/4-35.htm">Numbers 4:35</a></div><div class="verse">From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every one that entereth into the service, for the work in the tabernacle of the congregation:</div><A name="36"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/numbers/4-36.htm">Numbers 4:36</a></div><div class="verse">And those that were numbered of them by their families were two thousand seven hundred and fifty.</div><A name="37"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/numbers/4-37.htm">Numbers 4:37</a></div><div class="verse">These <i>were</i> 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 hand of Moses.</div><A name="38"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/numbers/4-38.htm">Numbers 4:38</a></div><div class="verse">And those that were numbered of the sons of Gershon, throughout their families, and by the house of their fathers,</div><A name="39"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/numbers/4-39.htm">Numbers 4:39</a></div><div class="verse">From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every one that entereth into the service, for the work in the tabernacle of the congregation,</div><A name="40"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/numbers/4-40.htm">Numbers 4:40</a></div><div class="verse">Even those that were numbered of them, throughout their families, by the house of their fathers, were two thousand and six hundred and thirty.</div><A name="41"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/numbers/4-41.htm">Numbers 4:41</a></div><div class="verse">These <i>are</i> they that were numbered of the families of the sons of Gershon, of all that might do service in the tabernacle of the congregation, whom Moses and Aaron did number according to the commandment of the LORD.</div><A name="42"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/numbers/4-42.htm">Numbers 4:42</a></div><div class="verse">And those that were numbered of the families of the sons of Merari, throughout their families, by the house of their fathers,</div><A name="43"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/numbers/4-43.htm">Numbers 4:43</a></div><div class="verse">From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every one that entereth into the service, for the work in the tabernacle of the congregation,</div><A name="44"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/numbers/4-44.htm">Numbers 4:44</a></div><div class="verse">Even those that were numbered of them after their families, were three thousand and two hundred.</div><A name="45"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/numbers/4-45.htm">Numbers 4:45</a></div><div class="verse">These <i>be</i> those that were numbered of the families of the sons of Merari, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the word of the LORD by the hand of Moses.</div><A name="46"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/numbers/4-46.htm">Numbers 4:46</a></div><div class="verse">All those that were numbered of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron and the chief of Israel numbered, after their families, and after the house of their fathers,</div><A name="47"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/numbers/4-47.htm">Numbers 4:47</a></div><div class="verse">From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every one that came to do the service of the ministry, and the service of the burden in the tabernacle of the congregation,</div><A name="48"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/numbers/4-48.htm">Numbers 4:48</a></div><div class="verse">Even those that were numbered of them, were eight thousand and five hundred and fourscore.</div><A name="49"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/numbers/4-49.htm">Numbers 4:49</a></div><div class="verse">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 Moses.</div><span class="bld">49</span>. <span class="ital">thus were they numbered of him, as</span> &c.] This is a paraphrase which gives the required sense. The Heb. is corrupt, but the LXX. reads <span class="bld">and they were numbered, as</span> &c.1 [Note: Apparently <span class="greekheb">וַיְפֻקְדוּ כַאֲשֶׁר</span> for <span class="greekheb">וּפְקֻדָיו אֲשֶׁר</span>.] <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center">The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges<br /><br />Text Courtesy of <a href="//biblesupport.com" target="_top">BibleSupport.com</a>. 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