THE SERVICE OF THE KOHATHITES THE SERVICE OF THE GERSHONITES THE SERVICE OF THE MERARITES SUMMARY NUMBERS 4:1-49

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1 1 THE SERVICE OF THE KOHATHITES THE SERVICE OF THE GERSHONITES THE SERVICE OF THE MERARITES SUMMARY NUMBERS 4:1-49

2 2 Text: Numbers 4:1-49, THE SERVICE OF THE KOHATHITES THE SERVICE OF THE GERSHONITES THE SERVICE OF THE MERARITES SUMMARY 1. Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron: 2. Take a census of the Kohathites from among the Levites, by their families and by their clans, 3. from thirty years old and upward to fifty years old, all who enter the company to do the work in the tent of meeting. 4. This is the service of the Kohathites in the tent of meeting, relating to the most holy things. 5. When it is time for the camp to journey, Aaron and his sons must come and take down the screening curtain and cover the ark of the testimony with it. 6. Then they must put over it a covering of fine leather and spread over that a cloth entirely of blue, and then they must insert its poles. 7. On the table of the presence they must spread a blue cloth, and put on it the dishes, the pans, the bowls, and the pitchers for pouring, and the Bread of the Presence must be on it continually.

3 They must spread over them a scarlet cloth, and cover the same with a covering of fine leather; and they must insert its poles. 9. They must take a blue cloth and cover the lampstand of the light, with its lamps, its wick-trimmers, its trays, and all its oil vessels, with which they service it. 10. Then they must put it with all its utensils in a covering of fine leather, and put it on a carrying beam. 11. They must spread a blue cloth on the gold altar, and cover it with a covering of fine leather; and they must insert its poles. 12. Then they must take all the utensils of the service, with which they serve in the sanctuary, put them in a blue cloth, cover them with a covering of fine leather, and put them on a carrying beam. 13. Also, they must take away the ashes from the altar and spread a purple cloth over it. 14. Then they must place on it all its implements with which they serve there the trays, the meat forks, the shovels, the basins, and all the utensils of the altar and they must spread on it a covering of fine leather, and then insert its poles. 15. When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the sanctuary and all the furnishings of the sanctuary, when the camp is ready to journey, then the Kohathites will come to carry them; but they must not touch any holy thing, or they will die. These are the responsibilities of the Kohathites with the tent of meeting. 16. The appointed responsibility of Eleazar son of Aaron the priest is for the oil for the light, and the spiced incense, and the daily grain offering, and the anointing oil; he also has the appointed responsibility over all the

4 4 tabernacle with all that is in it, over the sanctuary and over all its furnishings. 17. Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron: 18. Do not allow the tribe of the families of the Kohathites to be cut off from among the Levites; 19. but in order that they will live and not die when they approach the most holy things, do this for them: Aaron and his sons will go in and appoint each man to his service and his responsibility. 20. But the Kohathites are not to go in to watch while the holy things are being covered, or they will die. 21. Then the Lord spoke to Moses: 22. Also take a census of the Gershonites, by their clans and by their families. 23. You must number them from thirty years old and upward to fifty years old, all who enter the company to do the work of the tent of meeting. 24. This is the service of the families of Gershonites, as they serve and carry it. 25. They must carry the curtains for the tabernacle and the tent of meeting with its covering, the covering of fine leather that is over it, the curtains for the entrance of the tent of meeting, 26. the hangings for the courtyard, the curtain for the entrance of the gate of the court, which is around the tabernacle and the altar, and their ropes, along with all the furnishings for their service and everything that is made for them. So they are to serve. 27. All the service of the Gershonites, whether carrying loads or for any of their work, will be at the direction of Aaron and his sons. You will assign them all their tasks as their responsibility.

5 This is the service of the families of the Gershonites concerning the tent of meeting. Their responsibilities will be under the authority of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest. 29. As for the sons of Merari, you are to number them by their families and by their clans. 30. You must number them from thirty years old and upward to fifty years old, all who enter the company to do the work of the tent of meeting. 31. This is what they are responsible to carry as their entire service in the tent of meeting: the frames of the tabernacle, its crossbars, its posts, its sockets, 32. and the posts of the surrounding courtyard with their sockets, tent pegs, and ropes, along with all their furnishings and everything for their service. You are to assign by names the items that each man is responsible to carry. 33. This is the service of the families of the Merarites, their entire service concerning the tent of meeting, under the authority of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest. 34. So Moses and Aaron and the leaders of the community numbered the Kohathites by their families and by clans, 35. from thirty years old and upward to fifty years old, everyone who entered the company for the work in the tent of meeting; 36. and those of them numbered by their families were 2, These were those numbered from the families of the Kohathites, everyone who served in the tent of meeting, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the word of the Lord by the authority of Moses. 38. Those numbered from the Gershonites, by their families and by their clans,

6 from thirty years old and upward to fifty years old, everyone who entered the company for the work in the tent of meeting 40. those of them numbered by their families, by their clans, were 2, These were those numbered from the families of the Gershonites, everyone who served in the tent of meeting, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the word of the Lord. 42. Those numbered from the families of the Merarites, by their families, by their clans, 43. from thirty years old and upward to fifty years old, everyone who entered the company for the work in the tent of meeting 44. those of them numbered by their families were 3, These are those numbered from the families of the Merarites, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the word of the Lord by the authority of Moses. 46. All who were numbered of the Levites, whom Moses, Aaron, and the leaders of Israel numbered by their families and by their clans, 47. from thirty years old and upward to fifty years old, everyone who entered to do the work of service and the work of carrying relating to the tent of meeting 48. those of them numbered were 8, According to the word of the Lord they were numbered, by the authority of Moses, each according to his service and according to what he was to carry. Thus were they numbered by him, as the Lord had commanded Moses. (NET)

7 7 THE SERVICE OF THE KOHATHITES Numbers 4:1-3, Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron: Take a census of the Kohathites from among the Levites, by their families and by their clans, from thirty years old and upward to fifty years old, all who enter the company to do the work in the tent of meeting. (NET) In the previous chapter, the census was to include all the Levites from one month old upward. Now, for the service of the Tabernacle, the count is only of those who are from thirty up to fifty. Before thirty they were considered too young and immature to serve and after fifty, too old. Each of the clans of the three sons of Levi is going to be counted using this same rule. Numbers 4:4-6, This is the service of the Kohathites in the tent of meeting, relating to the most holy things. When it is time for the camp to journey, Aaron and his sons must come and take down the screening curtain and cover the ark of the testimony with it. Then they must put over it a covering of fine leather and spread over that a cloth entirely of blue, and then they must insert its poles. (NET) After the order to count each clan, their particular role in moving the Tabernacle will be defined. The Kohathites are given the most sacred and dangerous task of all the packing and moving of the sacred furniture within the Tabernacle. Several colors and fabrics are going to be specified. Let s take a look at the Hebrew words for these colors.

8 8 The NET and most other translations use the word blue to describe one of the coverings. The Hebrew word actually means violet according to the lexicons we were able to access. Violet and blue are not different shades of the same color, so it is not clear why the translators chose blue in these verses. tl,ket.. violet, i.e. violet thread and stuff Violet thread (spun; woven): of hangings of tabernacle, ephod, etc.; of temple hangings; 2. violet stuff, fabric; also in trade, cf. 't dg<b, for covering sacred utensils. Whittaker's Revised BDB Lexicon, pg. 1069, 1068, 251 In regard to preparing the Ark of the Covenant for transporting, Aaron and his sons (not just any Kohathite!) were to remove the veil that separated the Holy from the Most Holy place, fold it, no doubt, since it is much larger than the Ark, and place it over the Ark of the Testimony followed by a waterproof covering (here called fine leather ) and then to cover that with a covering made of violet cloth. As one reads through this chapter, it will be noted that the Ark is the only article where the colored covering will be visible! All other items will have the weatherproof covering on the outside of all other coverings. We are left to use our imagination as to why this is called for. Later in the chapter other instructions are given, but no explanations are offered. Here a note about these coverings: although no description of them is given nor instruction to make such coverings is recorded, it is almost certain that these are not taken from the curtains and coverings of the Tabernacle itself and adapted for this use. This is obvious for two reasons. First, the items within the Tabernacle

9 9 were to be packed and made ready for travel before the Tabernacle was disassembled. Except for the veil which has been already noted above. Second, the draperies and coverings of the Tabernacle would have been much too large for this application. No doubt, these coverings were made of the specified material and made to fit each article of furniture. Numbers 4:7-8, On the table of the presence they must spread a blue cloth (see the note about the color blue above), and put on it the dishes, the pans, the bowls, and the pitchers for pouring, and the Bread of the Presence must be on it continually. They must spread over them a scarlet cloth, and cover the same with a covering of fine leather; and they must insert its poles. (NET) Note that the table has two cloth coverings. One of violet and one of scarlet, both of which are then covered with the leather protective covering. Two Hebrew words are necessary to express the color of scarlet. One speaks of the color and the other of the worm from which it is extracted. t[;l;at n. worm worm, grub, vine-weevil; devouring the dead; symbol of insignificance. 2. elsewhere. specif. + yniv' (q.v.), of the coccus ilicis yielding scarlet color; of crimson stuff. Whittaker's Revised BDB Lexicon, pg yniv' n. scarlet (prop. coccus ilicis which attaches itself to leaves and twigs of quercus coccifera; the dried body of female yields coloring matter) scarlet; alone as material of clothing. Whittaker's Revised BDB Lexicon, pg 1040

10 10 Numbers 4:9-10, They must take a blue cloth and cover the lampstand of the light, with its lamps, its wicktrimmers, its trays, and all its oil vessels, with which they service it. Then they must put it with all its utensils in a covering of fine leather, and put it on a carrying beam. (NET) The lampstand gets only one cloth covering (violet) and the waterproof covering called fine leather. The material here called fine leather in the NET is variously translated in other versions and it is clear that there is not much agreement on what exactly this was. Obviously it was some kind of hide that was durable and weatherproof. ASV sealskins; KJG badgers skins; NASB porpoise skins; NIV hides of sea cows Even the most thorough and diligent Bible student must come to grips with the fact that some things are never going to be made entirely clear. It has been too long and the ancient languages are sometimes not as specific as we would like. Note also that the lampstand does not have poles, but is carried on a beam made especially for it. Numbers 4:11, They must spread a blue cloth on the gold altar, and cover it with a covering of fine leather; and they must insert its poles. (NET) The golden altar gets a covering of violet and leather and is carried with poles.

11 11 Numbers 4:12, Then they must take all the utensils of the service, with which they serve in the sanctuary, put them in a blue cloth, cover them with a covering of fine leather, and put them on a carrying beam. (NET) The utensils of the altar of incense, however, are packed in violet and leather and carried on a beam like the lampstand. Now we move to the brazen altar... Numbers 4:13-14, Also, they must take away the ashes from the altar and spread a purple cloth over it. Then they must place on it all its implements with which they serve there the trays, the meat forks, the shovels, the basins, and all the utensils of the altar and they must spread on it a covering of fine leather, and then insert its poles. (NET) Here we get a purple cloth over the altar, followed by the implements of service on the purple cloth and then a leather cover over that. It too is carried by poles.!m'g"r>a; n.[m.] purple, red-purple, i.e. purple thread & cloth purple thread; a. mostly Exodus with ref. to the hangings of tabernacle, the ephod, etc. 2. purple cloth, chiefly of garments, in simile, of woman's hair. Whittaker's Revised BDB Lexicon, pg 71 The significance of the various colors called for in these coverings is not known, though some have speculated about it. We will refrain from that and leave it to the student to draw meaning from them, or let it stand as an unknown. Deuteronomy 29:29,

12 12 Secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those that are revealed belong to us and our descendants forever (NET) Numbers 4:15, When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the sanctuary and all the furnishings of the sanctuary, when the camp is ready to journey, then the Kohathites will come to carry them; but they must not touch any holy thing, or they will die. These are the responsibilities of the Kohathites with the tent of meeting. (NET) Apparently hoisting the items to their shoulders using the poles or the carrying beams is as close as the Kohathites will get to touching the sacred items themselves. They don t even see them, just the outer packaging. Numbers 4:16, The appointed responsibility of Eleazar son of Aaron the priest is for the oil for the light, and the spiced incense, and the daily grain offering, and the anointing oil; he also has the appointed responsibility over all the tabernacle with all that is in it, over the sanctuary and over all its furnishings. (NET) Apparently, Eleazar not only oversees the moving of all the furniture, but he himself is responsible for the moving of the oil, incense, grain and anointing oil used in the worship. Numbers 4:17-20, Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron: Do not allow the tribe of the families of the Kohathites to be cut off from among the Levites; but in order that they will live and not die when they approach

13 13 the most holy things, do this for them: Aaron and his sons will go in and appoint each man to his service and his responsibility. But the Kohathites are not to go in to watch while the holy things are being covered, or they will die. (NET) The Service of the Gershonites (Verses 21 28) Numbers 4:21-26, Then the Lord spoke to Moses: Also take a census of the Gershonites, by their clans and by their families. You must number them from thirty years old and upward to fifty years old, all who enter the company to do the work of the tent of meeting. This is the service of the families of Gershonites, as they serve and carry it. They must carry the curtains for the tabernacle and the tent of meeting with its covering, the covering of fine leather that is over it, the curtains for the entrance of the tent of meeting, the hangings for the courtyard, the curtain for the entrance of the gate of the court, which is around the tabernacle and the altar, and their ropes, along with all the furnishings for their service and everything that is made for them. So they are to serve. (NET) Now we move from the contents of the Tabernacle to the coverings and outer court curtain material. This will be the work of the Gershonites. For a full description of these coverings that formed the tent over the Tabernacle, see Exodus 26:1-14, The tabernacle itself you are to make with ten curtains of fine twisted linen and blue and purple and scarlet; you are to make them with cherubim that are the work of an artistic designer. The length of each curtain is to be forty-

14 14 two feet, and the width of each curtain is to be six feet the same size for each of the curtains. Five curtains are to be joined, one to another, and the other five curtains are to be joined, one to another. You are to make loops of blue material along the edge of the end curtain in one set, and in the same way you are to make loops in the outer edge of the end curtain in the second set. You are to make fifty loops on the one curtain, and you are to make fifty loops on the end curtain which is on the second set, so that the loops are opposite one to another. You are to make fifty gold clasps and join the curtains together with the clasps, so that the tabernacle is a unit. You are to make curtains of goats hair for a tent over the tabernacle; you are to make eleven curtains. The length of each curtain is to be forty-five feet, and the width of each curtain is to be six feet the same size for the eleven curtains. You are to join five curtains by themselves and six curtains by themselves. You are to double over the sixth curtain at the front of the tent. You are to make fifty loops along the edge of the end curtain in one set and fifty loops along the edge of the curtain that joins the second set. You are to make fifty bronze clasps and put the clasps into the loops and join the tent together so that it is a unit. Now the part that remains of the curtains of the tent the half curtain that remains will hang over at the back of the tabernacle. The foot and a half on the one side and the foot and a half on the other side of what remains in the length of the curtains of the tent will hang over the sides of the tabernacle, on one side and the other side, to cover it. You are to make a covering for the tent out of ram skins dyed red and over that a covering of fine leather. (NET) And for a full description of these outer

15 15 curtains, see Exodus 27:9-19, You are to make the courtyard of the tabernacle. For the south side there are to be hangings for the courtyard of fine twisted linen, one hundred fifty feet long for one side, with twenty posts and their twenty bronze bases, with the hooks of the posts and their bands of silver. Likewise for its length on the north side, there are to be hangings for one hundred fifty feet, with twenty posts and their twenty bronze bases, with silver hooks and bands on the posts. The width of the court on the west side is to be seventy-five feet with hangings, with their ten posts and their ten bases. The width of the court on the east side, toward the sunrise, is to be seventy-five feet. The hangings on one side of the gate are to be twenty-two and a half feet long, with their three posts and their three bases. On the second side there are to be hangings twenty-two and a half feet long, with their three posts and their three bases. For the gate of the courtyard there is to be a curtain of thirty feet, of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and fine twined linen, the work of an embroiderer, with four posts and their four bases. All the posts around the courtyard are to have silver bands; their hooks are to be silver, and their bases bronze. The length of the courtyard is to be one hundred fifty feet and the width seventy-five feet, and the height of the fine twisted linen hangings is to be seven and a half feet, with their bronze bases. All the utensils of the tabernacle used in all its service, all its tent pegs, and all the tent pegs of the courtyard are to be made of bronze. (NET). Numbers 4:27-28, All the service of the Gershonites, whether carrying loads or for any of their work, will be at

16 16 the direction of Aaron and his sons. You will assign them all their tasks as their responsibility. This is the service of the families of the Gershonites concerning the tent of meeting. Their responsibilities will be under the authority of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest. (NET) The youngest son of Aaron is to oversee this project. The Service of the Merarites (Verses 29-33) Numbers 4:29-33, As for the sons of Merari, you are to number them by their families and by their clans. You must number them from thirty years old and upward to fifty years old, all who enter the company to do the work of the tent of meeting. This is what they are responsible to carry as their entire service in the tent of meeting: the frames of the tabernacle, its crossbars, its posts, its sockets, and the posts of the surrounding courtyard with their sockets, tent pegs, and ropes, along with all their furnishings and everything for their service. You are to assign by names the items that each man is responsible to carry. This is the service of the families of the Merarites, their entire service concerning the tent of meeting, under the authority of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest. (NET) The Merarites are to move the hardware. They are not packing any delicate items or folding any curtains, etc., but they have the solid stuff and it is heavy! The bronze posts that supported the outer linen wall were seven and one half feet tall! The boards that formed the three walls of the Tabernacle itself were fifteen feet tall and twenty-seven inches wide and gold plated! They were set

17 17 in silver bases (two to each board) that weighed seventy-five pounds each! So, each of Levi s three clans had a special duty with regard to the transporting of the Tabernacle. One clan handled delicate and dangerous items, one clan moved the bulky and cumbersome items and one did the heavy lifting! All portions of the worship center were sacred and had to be handled according to God s specific instructions. It is interesting to note that they traveled in the exact opposite order from their order here. The Merarites had to arrive first and set the framework for the Tabernacle and the outer court, then the Gershonites would arrive and hang the curtains and finally the Kohathites would bring in the furnishings. With the huge number of workers and each one having an assigned duty, this process probably was completed in a few hours and by the time the body of Israelites arrived and set up their tents, everything would be operational. (NET) Summary (Verses 34-49) Numbers 4:34-49, So Moses and Aaron and the leaders of the community numbered the Kohathites by their families and by clans, from thirty years old and upward to fifty years old, everyone who entered the company for the work in the tent of meeting; and those of them numbered by their families were 2,750. These were those numbered from the families of the Kohathites, everyone who served in the tent of meeting, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the word of the Lord by the authority of Moses. Those numbered from the Gershonites, by their

18 18 families and by their clans, from thirty years old and upward to fifty years old, everyone who entered the company for the work in the tent of meeting those of them numbered by their families, by their clans, were 2,630. These were those numbered from the families of the Gershonites, everyone who served in the tent of meeting, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the word of the Lord. Those numbered from the families of the Merarites, by their families, by their clans, from thirty years old and upward to fifty years old, everyone who entered the company for the work in the tent of meeting those of them numbered by their families were 3,200. These are those numbered from the families of the Merarites, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the word of the Lord by the authority of Moses. All who were numbered of the Levites, whom Moses, Aaron, and the leaders of Israel numbered by their families and by their clans, from thirty years old and upward to fifty years old, everyone who entered to do the work of service and the work of carrying relating to the tent of meeting those of them numbered were 8,580. According to the word of the Lord they were numbered, by the authority of Moses, each according to his service and according to what he was to carry. Thus were they numbered by him, as the Lord had commanded Moses. (NET) The number of men between the ages of 30 and 50 in each of the three clans totaled 8,380. It is not hard to understand why this book of the Torah has come to be called Numbers.

19 19 Questions on Isaiah 4: In the counting of these clans of Levi s descendants, exactly who was counted? 2. What role did the Kohathites perform in the moving of the Tabernacle? 3. Who was required to make these items ready to move?

20 What restrictions were placed on the Kohathites during this process? 5. After all was in order, what other restriction was placed on those who were to carry the items? 6. What was the color of the final covering of the Ark of the Testimony? 7. What color does the Hebrew text actually indicate for this covering?

21 What other colors are mentioned as coverings for the various items? 9. Which item actually had two different colors of coverings? 10. Except for the Ark, what was the final covering made of? 11. What other terms are used in other translations of the Scripture for this material? 12. What needed to be removed from the large altar of burnt offerings before it was moved?

22 What color was the inner covering for this item? 14. What should we do about things that are not clearly revealed about this process? 15. What would happen to a Kohathite if they attempted to watch Aaron and his sons preparing the items of worship for transport?_ 16. What part of the move were the Gershonites to perform?

23 What were the Merarites to carry? 18. Describe the marching order of these Levites bearing the various parts of the Tabernacle. 19. Why was this necessary? 20. What was the total of Levite men who were between the ages of 30 and 50?

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