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class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/numbers/4.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/numbers/4.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />But the Kohathites must not go in to look at the holy things, even for a moment, or they will die.&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/numbers/4.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />The Kohathites must never enter the sanctuary to look at the sacred objects for even a moment, or they will die.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/numbers/4.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />but they shall not go in to look on the holy things even for a moment, lest they die.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/numbers/4.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />But the Kohathites are not to go in and look at the holy objects, even for a moment, or they will die.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/numbers/4.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />But they shall not go in to see when the holy things are covered, lest they die.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/numbers/4.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />But they shall not go in to watch while the holy things are being covered, lest they die.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/numbers/4.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />but they shall not come in to see the holy <i>objects</i> even for a moment, or they will die.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/numbers/4.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />but they shall not go in to see the holy objects even for a moment, or they will die.&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/numbers/4.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />but they shall not go in to see the holy <i>objects</i> even for a moment, lest they die.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/numbers/4.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />but they shall not go in to see the holy <i>objects</i> even for a moment, or they will die.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/numbers/4.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />But the Kohathites shall not go in to see the holy things, even for an instant, or they will die.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/numbers/4.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />The Kohathites are not to go in and look at the holy objects as they are covered or they will die.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/numbers/4.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />The Kohathites are not to go in and look at the holy objects, even for a moment, or they will die.&#8221 <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/numbers/4.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />but they shall not go in to see the sanctuary even for a moment, lest they die.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/numbers/4.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />but they shall not go in to see the sanctuary even for a moment, lest they die.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/numbers/4.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />But the Kohathites must not go in to look at the holy things, even for a moment, or they will die."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/numbers/4.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />But if the Kohathites enter the Tent and see the priests preparing the sacred objects for moving, they will die." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/numbers/4.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />But they are not to go in to see the sanctuary as it is being covered, so they won't die."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/numbers/4.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />But the Kohathites are not to go in and look at the holy objects, even for a moment, or they will die.?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/numbers/4.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />But the Kohathites are not to go in to watch while the holy things are being covered, or they will die." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/numbers/4.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />but they shall not go in to see the sanctuary even for a moment, lest they die."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/numbers/4.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />But they shall not go in to see when the holy things are covered, lest they die.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/numbers/4.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />but they shall not go in to see the sanctuary even for a moment, lest they die.” <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/numbers/4.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />and they do not go in to see when the holy thing is swallowed, lest they have died.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/numbers/4.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> and they go not in to see when the holy thing is swallowed, that they have died.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/numbers/4.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And they shall not go in to see for a moment's time the holy place, and die.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/numbers/4.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Let not others by any curiosity see the things that are in the sanctuary before they be wrapped up, otherwise they shall die. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/numbers/4.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />Let no others, out of curiosity, see the things that are in the Sanctuary before they are wrapped, otherwise they shall die.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/numbers/4.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />but the Kohathites shall not go in to look upon the sacred objects even for an instant, or they will die.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/numbers/4.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />But the Kohathites must not go in to look on the holy things even for a moment; otherwise they will die.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/numbers/4.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />But they shall not go in to observe when the holy things are covered, lest they die.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/numbers/4.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And they shall not enter to see when the holy things are covered lest they die.”<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/numbers/4.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />but they shall not go in to see the holy things as they are being covered, lest they die.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/numbers/4.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And <i>so</i> they shall by no means go in to look suddenly upon the holy things, and die.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/numbers/4-20.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yauBFvKLNNo?start=1229" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/numbers/4.htm">The Duties of the Kohathites</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">19</span>In order that they may live and not die when they come near the most holy things, do this for them: Aaron and his sons are to go in and assign each man his task and what he is to carry. <span class="reftext">20</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: wə·lō- (Conj-w:: Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">But the Kohathites are not</a> <a href="/hebrew/935.htm" title="935: yā·ḇō·’ū (V-Qal-Imperf-3mp) -- To come in, come, go in, go. A primitive root; to go or come.">to go in</a> <a href="/hebrew/7200.htm" title="7200: lir·’ō·wṯ (Prep-l:: V-Qal-Inf) -- To see. A primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively.">and look</a> <a href="/hebrew/6944.htm" title="6944: haq·qō·ḏeš (Art:: N-ms) -- Apartness, sacredness. From qadash; a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity.">at the holy objects,</a> <a href="/hebrew/1104.htm" title="1104: kə·ḇal·la‘ (Prep-k:: V-Piel-Inf) -- To swallow down, swallow up, engulf. A primitive root; to make away with; generally, to destroy.">even for a moment,</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/4191.htm" title="4191: wā·mê·ṯū (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConjPerf-3cp) -- To die. A primitive root: to die; causatively, to kill.">or they will die.”</a> </span><div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/19-21.htm">Exodus 19:21-22</a></span><br />and the LORD said to him, “Go down and warn the people not to break through to see the LORD, lest many of them perish. / Even the priests who approach the LORD must consecrate themselves, or the LORD will break out against them.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/leviticus/16-2.htm">Leviticus 16:2</a></span><br />And the LORD said to Moses: “Tell your brother Aaron not to enter freely into the Most Holy Place behind the veil in front of the mercy seat on the ark, or else he will die, because I appear in the cloud above the mercy seat.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/6-19.htm">1 Samuel 6:19-20</a></span><br />But God struck down some of the people of Beth-shemesh because they looked inside the ark of the LORD. He struck down seventy men, and the people mourned because the LORD had struck them with a great slaughter. / The men of Beth-shemesh asked, “Who can stand in the presence of the LORD, this holy God? To whom should the ark go up from here?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_samuel/6-6.htm">2 Samuel 6:6-7</a></span><br />When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen had stumbled. / And the anger of the LORD burned against Uzzah, and God struck him down on the spot for his irreverence, and he died there beside the ark of God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_chronicles/13-9.htm">1 Chronicles 13:9-10</a></span><br />When they came to the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark, because the oxen had stumbled. / And the anger of the LORD burned against Uzzah, and He struck him down because he had put his hand on the ark. So he died there before God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_chronicles/15-13.htm">1 Chronicles 15:13</a></span><br />It was because you Levites were not with us the first time that the LORD our God burst forth in anger against us. For we did not consult Him about the proper order.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_chronicles/26-16.htm">2 Chronicles 26:16-21</a></span><br />But when Uzziah became powerful, his arrogance led to his own destruction. He was unfaithful to the LORD his God, for he entered the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense. / Then Azariah the priest, along with eighty brave priests of the LORD, went in after him. / They took their stand against King Uzziah and said, “Uzziah, you have no right to offer incense to the LORD. Only the priests, the descendants of Aaron, are consecrated to burn incense. Leave the sanctuary, for you have acted unfaithfully; you will not receive honor from the LORD God.” ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/33-20.htm">Exodus 33:20</a></span><br />But He added, “You cannot see My face, for no one can see Me and live.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/leviticus/10-1.htm">Leviticus 10:1-2</a></span><br />Now Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense, and offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, contrary to His command. / So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died in the presence of the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/5-24.htm">Deuteronomy 5:24-26</a></span><br />and you said, “Behold, the LORD our God has shown us His glory and greatness, and we have heard His voice out of the fire. Today we have seen that a man can live even if God speaks with him. / But now, why should we die? For this great fire will consume us, and we will die, if we hear the voice of the LORD our God any longer. / For who of all flesh has heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the fire, as we have, and survived?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/6-5.htm">Isaiah 6:5</a></span><br />Then I said: “Woe is me, for I am ruined, because I am a man of unclean lips dwelling among a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of Hosts.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hebrews/9-7.htm">Hebrews 9:7</a></span><br />But only the high priest entered the second room, and then only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hebrews/10-19.htm">Hebrews 10:19-22</a></span><br />Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, / by the new and living way opened for us through the curtain of His body, / and since we have a great priest over the house of God, ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/27-51.htm">Matthew 27:51</a></span><br />At that moment the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth quaked, and the rocks were split.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/mark/15-38.htm">Mark 15:38</a></span><br />And the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">But they shall not go in to see when the holy things are covered, lest they die.</p><p class="hdg">they shall</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/numbers/4-15.htm">Numbers 4:15,19</a></b></br> 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… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/exodus/19-21.htm">Exodus 19:21</a></b></br> And the LORD said unto Moses, Go down, charge the people, lest they break through unto the LORD to gaze, and many of them perish.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/leviticus/10-2.htm">Leviticus 10:2</a></b></br> And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.</p><p class="hdg">the holy things.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_kings/8-8.htm">1 Kings 8:8</a></b></br> And they drew out the staves, that the ends of the staves were seen out in the holy <i>place</i> before the oracle, and they were not seen without: and there they are unto this day.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/2_chronicles/5-9.htm">2 Chronicles 5:9</a></b></br> And they drew out the staves <i>of the ark</i>, that the ends of the staves were seen from the ark before the oracle; but they were not seen without. And there it is unto this day.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/numbers/4-12.htm">Covered</a> <a href="/numbers/4-19.htm">Death</a> <a href="/numbers/4-19.htm">Die</a> <a href="/numbers/3-4.htm">Died</a> <a href="/leviticus/26-6.htm">Fear</a> <a href="/numbers/4-19.htm">Holy</a> <a href="/numbers/4-18.htm">Kohathites</a> <a href="/exodus/33-5.htm">Minute</a> <a href="/exodus/33-5.htm">Moment</a> <a href="/numbers/4-19.htm">Objects</a> <a href="/numbers/4-19.htm">Sanctuary</a> <a href="/exodus/15-12.htm">Swallowed</a> <a href="/numbers/2-33.htm">Themselves</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/numbers/7-3.htm">Covered</a> <a href="/numbers/6-7.htm">Death</a> <a href="/numbers/6-7.htm">Die</a> <a href="/numbers/11-2.htm">Died</a> <a href="/numbers/12-8.htm">Fear</a> <a href="/numbers/5-9.htm">Holy</a> <a href="/numbers/4-34.htm">Kohathites</a> <a href="/ruth/2-7.htm">Minute</a> <a href="/numbers/16-21.htm">Moment</a> <a href="/numbers/4-32.htm">Objects</a> <a href="/numbers/7-9.htm">Sanctuary</a> <a href="/numbers/16-32.htm">Swallowed</a> <a href="/numbers/6-2.htm">Themselves</a><div class="vheading2">Numbers 4</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/numbers/4-1.htm">The age at which the Levites were to serve, and the duration of the service</a></span><br><span class="reftext">4. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/numbers/4-4.htm">The duty of the Kohathites</a></span><br><span class="reftext">16. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/numbers/4-16.htm">The charge of Eleazar</a></span><br><span class="reftext">17. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/numbers/4-17.htm">The office of the priests</a></span><br><span class="reftext">21. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/numbers/4-21.htm">The duty of the Gershonites</a></span><br><span class="reftext">29. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/numbers/4-29.htm">Of the Merarites</a></span><br><span class="reftext">34. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/numbers/4-34.htm">The number of the Kohathites</a></span><br><span class="reftext">38. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/numbers/4-38.htm">Of the Gershonites</a></span><br><span class="reftext">42. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/numbers/4-42.htm">And of the Merarites</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/numbers/4.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/numbers/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/numbers/4.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>But the Kohathites</b><br>The Kohathites were one of the three main divisions of the Levites, descendants of Kohath, the second son of Levi. They were responsible for the most sacred duties in the tabernacle, including the care of the Ark of the Covenant, the table of showbread, the lampstand, and the altars. This role highlights the importance of their duties and the need for strict adherence to God's commands.<p><b>are not to go in and look at the holy objects</b><br>The holy objects refer to the sacred items within the tabernacle, which were considered the dwelling place of God's presence. The prohibition against looking at these objects underscores the holiness and separateness of God. This command reflects the broader biblical theme of God's holiness and the need for reverence and respect in approaching Him, as seen in other scriptures like <a href="/exodus/19-21.htm">Exodus 19:21</a> and <a href="/1_samuel/6-19.htm">1 Samuel 6:19</a>.<p><b>even for a moment</b><br>This phrase emphasizes the severity and immediacy of the command. The holiness of God required absolute obedience and respect, and even a brief glance could result in dire consequences. This reflects the broader biblical principle that God's commands are to be taken seriously and followed precisely.<p><b>or they will die</b><br>The consequence of death for disobedience highlights the seriousness of the command and the holiness of God. This is consistent with other instances in the Old Testament where disobedience to God's commands resulted in death, such as the case of Uzzah in <a href="/2_samuel/6-6.htm">2 Samuel 6:6-7</a>. It serves as a reminder of the need for reverence and the seriousness of approaching a holy God. This also foreshadows the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who through His death, allows believers to approach God with confidence, as seen in <a href="/hebrews/10-19.htm">Hebrews 10:19-22</a>.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/k/kohathites.htm">Kohathites</a></b><br>A Levitical clan responsible for the care of the most sacred objects of the tabernacle, including the Ark of the Covenant. They were descendants of Kohath, one of Levi's sons.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/h/holy_objects.htm">Holy Objects</a></b><br>These include the Ark of the Covenant, the table of showbread, the lampstand, the altars, and the sacred utensils used in the tabernacle service. These items were considered extremely sacred and were to be handled with utmost reverence.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/t/tabernacle.htm">Tabernacle</a></b><br>The portable dwelling place for the divine presence of God among the Israelites during their journey through the wilderness. It was the center of worship and sacrifice.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/d/death_penalty.htm">Death Penalty</a></b><br>The severe consequence for the Kohathites if they disobeyed the command not to look at the holy objects. This underscores the holiness of God and the seriousness of His commands.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/m/moses_and_aaron.htm">Moses and Aaron</a></b><br>Leaders of the Israelites who were responsible for instructing the Levites, including the Kohathites, in their duties and ensuring the proper handling of the holy objects.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/r/reverence_for_the_holy.htm">Reverence for the Holy</a></b><br>The command to the Kohathites teaches us the importance of approaching God and His sacred things with reverence and awe. We must recognize the holiness of God in our worship and daily lives.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/o/obedience_to_god's_commands.htm">Obedience to God's Commands</a></b><br>The severe consequence for disobedience underscores the importance of adhering to God's instructions. We are called to obey God's Word fully, understanding that His commands are for our good and His glory.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/r/role_of_leadership.htm">Role of Leadership</a></b><br>Moses and Aaron's role in instructing the Kohathites highlights the responsibility of spiritual leaders to guide their communities in understanding and respecting God's holiness.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_presence.htm">God's Presence</a></b><br>The tabernacle and its furnishings symbolize God's presence among His people. We are reminded that God desires to dwell with us, and we must prepare our hearts to be a suitable dwelling place for His Spirit.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_numbers_4.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Numbers 4</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/key_themes_in_ezekiel's_life.htm">What are the key themes in Ezekiel's life story?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_did_god_kill_uzza_for_touching_the_ark.htm">(1 Chronicles 13:9) Why would God strike Uzza dead for touching the Ark if he was only trying to steady it?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_does_god_kill_uzzah_for_touching_the_ark.htm">Why does God kill Uzzah instantly for touching the Ark to prevent it from falling (2 Samuel 6:7)?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_does_god_kill_for_looking_in_the_ark.htm">Why does a just and loving God kill people merely for looking into the Ark in 1 Samuel 6:19?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/numbers/4.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(20) <span class= "bld">But they shall not go in to see when the holy things are covered.</span>--Better, <span class= "ital">But they shall not go in to see the holy things </span>(or, the sanctuary) <span class= "ital">for a moment. </span>The Levites were not per-mitted to enter the holy place in which the priests ministered, much less the Holy of Holies. Whether this rule was or was not relaxed at the time of the removal of the Tabernacle, as the prohibition against entrance into the Holy of Holies must have been in regard to the priests, the Levites were not permitted in any case to look upon the Ark and the other holy things until they were covered.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/numbers/4.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 20.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">They shall not go in to see when the holy things are covered.</span> This translation is disputed. The word rendered "are covered" is the Piel infinitive from <span class="accented">bala</span>, to swallow, and so to destroy. It may signify the extreme rapidity with which the most holy things were hidden from sight and removed from touch, so as to become, as it were, non-existent for the time. So the Syriac, Arabic, Samaritan, and the Targums of Onkelos and Palestine. On the other hand, it may be a proverbial expression, "in a swallow, at a gulp," <span class="accented">i.e.</span>, "for an instant," as in <a href="/job/7-19.htm">Job 7:19</a>. And so the Septuagint, <span class="greek">ἐξάπινα</span>, and most modern scholars. Whichever way, however, we take it, the phrase, "they shall not go in to see," seems to limit the prohibition under pain of death to the deliberate act of entering the tabernacle out of curiosity during the process of packing up the holy things. The case of the men of Bethshemesh, therefore (<a href="/1_samuel/6-19.htm">1 Samuel 6:19</a>), does not fall within the letter of this law, although it does within its spirit. The command, thus limited, is no doubt an addition to the previous command not to touch, but it is altogether in keeping with it. If it was the will of God to hedge about these sacred symbols of his presence and his worship with an awful sanctity, it is obvious that he was as much bound to defend them against the irreverent prying of the eye as against the irreverent touch of the hand; and the prying here prohibited would have been distinctly willful and inexcusable. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/numbers/4-20.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">But [the Kohathites] are not</span><br /><span class="heb">וְלֹא־</span> <span class="translit">(wə·lō-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> </span><span class="str2">Not, no</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to go in</span><br /><span class="heb">יָבֹ֧אוּ</span> <span class="translit">(yā·ḇō·’ū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_935.htm">Strong's 935: </a> </span><span class="str2">To come in, come, go in, go</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and look</span><br /><span class="heb">לִרְא֛וֹת</span> <span class="translit">(lir·’ō·wṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7200.htm">Strong's 7200: </a> </span><span class="str2">To see</span><br /><br /><span class="word">at the holy objects,</span><br /><span class="heb">הַקֹּ֖דֶשׁ</span> <span class="translit">(haq·qō·ḏeš)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6944.htm">Strong's 6944: </a> </span><span class="str2">A sacred place, thing, sanctity</span><br /><br /><span class="word">even for a moment,</span><br /><span class="heb">כְּבַלַּ֥ע</span> <span class="translit">(kə·ḇal·la‘)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-k | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1104.htm">Strong's 1104: </a> </span><span class="str2">To swallow down, swallow up, engulf</span><br /><br /><span class="word">or they will die.”</span><br /><span class="heb">וָמֵֽתוּ׃</span> <span class="translit">(wā·mê·ṯū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4191.htm">Strong's 4191: </a> </span><span class="str2">To die, to kill</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/numbers/4-20.htm">Numbers 4:20 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/numbers/4-20.htm">Numbers 4:20 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/numbers/4-20.htm">Numbers 4:20 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/numbers/4-20.htm">Numbers 4:20 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/numbers/4-20.htm">Numbers 4:20 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/numbers/4-20.htm">Numbers 4:20 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/numbers/4-20.htm">Numbers 4:20 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/numbers/4-20.htm">Numbers 4:20 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/numbers/4-20.htm">Numbers 4:20 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/numbers/4-20.htm">Numbers 4:20 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/numbers/4-20.htm">OT Law: Numbers 4:20 But they shall not go (Nu Num.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/numbers/4-19.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Numbers 4:19"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Numbers 4:19" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/numbers/4-21.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Numbers 4:21"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Numbers 4:21" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>