Numbers 4

New English Translation

The Service of the Kohathites

4 ^[a] Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron: ²“Take a census^[b] of the Kohathites from among the Levites, by their families and by their clans, ³from thirty years old and upward to fifty years old, all who enter the company^[c] to do the work in the tent of meeting. ⁴This is the service of the Kohathites in the tent of meeting, relating to the most holy things.^[d] ⁵When it is time for the camp to journey,^[e] Aaron and his sons must come and take down the screening curtain and cover the ark of the testimony with it. ⁶Then they must put over it a covering of fine leather^[f] and spread over that a cloth entirely of blue, and then they must insert its poles.

⁷“On the table of the presence^[g] they must spread a blue^[h] 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. ⁸They 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. ¹⁰Then they must put it with all its utensils in a covering of fine leather, and put it on a carrying beam.^[i]

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. ¹²Then 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. ¹³Also, they must take away the ashes from the altar^[j] and spread a purple cloth over it. ¹⁴Then 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.^[k]

¹⁵“When Aaron and his sons have finished^[l] covering^[m] the sanctuary and all the furnishings of the sanctuary, when the camp is ready to journey, then^[n] the Kohathites will come to carry them;^[o] but they must not touch^[p] any^[q] holy thing, or they will die.^[r] These are the responsibilities^[s] 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^[t] the appointed responsibility over all the tabernacle with^[u] all that is in it, over the sanctuary and over all its furnishings.”^[v]

¹⁷Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron: ¹⁸“Do not allow the tribe of the families of the Kohathites to be cut off^[w] from among the Levites; ¹⁹but in order that they will live^[x] and not die when they approach the most holy things, do this for them: Aaron and his sons will go in and appoint^[y] each man^[z] to his service and his responsibility. ²⁰But the Kohathites^[aa] are not to go in to watch while the holy things are being covered, or they will die.”

The Service of the Gershonites

²¹Then the Lord spoke to Moses: ²²“Also take a census of the Gershonites also, by their clans and by their families. ²³You 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. ²⁴This is the service of the families of Gershonites, as they serve^[ab] and carry it. ²⁵They 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, ²⁶the hangings for the courtyard, the curtain for the entrance of the gate of the court,^[ac] 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.^[ad]

²⁷“All the service of the Gershonites, whether^[ae] carrying loads^[af] or for any of their work, will be at the direction of^[ag] Aaron and his sons. You will assign them all their tasks^[ah] as their responsibility. ²⁸This is the service of the families of the Gershonites concerning the tent of meeting. Their responsibilities will be under the authority^[ai] of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.^[aj]

The Service of the Merarites

²⁹“As for the sons of Merari, you are to number them by their families and by their clans. ³⁰You 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. ³¹This is what they are responsible to carry as their entire service in the tent of meeting: the frames^[ak] of the tabernacle, its crossbars, its posts, its sockets, ³²and 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 name the items that each man is responsible to carry.^[al] ³³This 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.”

Summary

³⁴So Moses and Aaron and the leaders of the community numbered the Kohathites by their families and by clans, ³⁵from thirty years old and upward to fifty years old, everyone who entered the company for the work in the tent of meeting; ³⁶and those of them numbered by their families were 2,750. ³⁷These 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.

³⁸Those numbered from the Gershonites, by their families and by their clans, ³⁹from thirty years old and upward to fifty years old, everyone who entered the company for the work in the tent of meeting— ⁴⁰those of them numbered by their families, by their clans, were 2,630. ⁴¹These 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.

⁴²Those numbered from the families of the Merarites, by their families, by their clans, ⁴³from thirty years old and upward to fifty years old, everyone who entered the company for the work in the tent of meeting— ⁴⁴those of them numbered by their families were 3,200. ⁴⁵These 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.

⁴⁶All who were numbered of the Levites, whom Moses, Aaron, and the leaders of Israel numbered by their families and by their clans, ⁴⁷from thirty years old and upward to fifty years old, everyone who entered to do the work of service and the work of carrying^[am] relating to the tent of meeting— ⁴⁸those of them numbered were 8,580. ⁴⁹According to the word of the Lord they were numbered,^[an] by the authority of Moses, each according to his service and according to what he was to carry.^[ao] Thus were they numbered by him,^[ap] as the Lord had commanded Moses.

Footnotes

Numbers 4:1 sn The chapter has four main parts to it: Kohathites (1-20), Gershonites (21-28), Merarites (29-33) and the census of the Levites (34-49).
Numbers 4:2 tn Heb “lift up the head.” The form נָשֹׂא (nasoʾ) is the Qal infinitive absolute functioning here as a pure verb form. This serves to emphasize the basic verbal root idea (see GKC 346 §113.bb).sn The census of chapter 3 was to register all male Levites from a month old and up. It arranged the general duties of each of the tribes. The second census of Levites now will focus on those between 30 and 50 years of age, those who were actually in service. These are the working Levites. The duties here will be more specific for each of the families. The Kohathites, although part of the ordinary ministry of Levites, were a special group chosen to handle the most holy furnishings. J. Milgrom shows three aspects of their service: (1) skilled labor (מְלָאכָה, m^elaʾkhah) or “work,” (2) physical labor (עֲבֹדָה, ʿavodah) or “service,” and (3) assisting the priests (שָׁרֵת, sharet) or “ministering” (see his Studies in Levitical Terminology, 1:60-70).
Numbers 4:3 tn The word “company” is literally “host, army” (צָבָא, tsavaʾ). The repetition of similar expressions makes the translation difficult: Heb “all [who] come to the host to do work in the tent.”
Numbers 4:4 tn The Hebrew text simply has “the holy of holies,” or “the holy of the holy things” (קֹדֶשׁ הַקֳּדָשִׁים, qodesh haqqodashim). The context indicates that this refers to all the sacred furnishings.
Numbers 4:5 tn The Hebrew text uses the infinitive construct in an adverbial clause of time; literally it says “in the journeying of the camp.” The genitive in such constructions is usually the subject. Here the implication is that people would be preparing to transport the camp and its equipment.
Numbers 4:6 tn The exact meaning of the Hebrew word here is difficult to determine. The term תַּחַשׁ (takhash) has been translated “badgers’ [skins]” by KJV. ASV has “sealskin” while RSV uses “goatskin”; NEB and NASB have “porpoise skin,” and NIV has “hides of sea cows.” This is close to “porpoise,” and seems influenced by the Arabic. The evidence is not strong for any of these meanings, and some of the suggestions would be problematic. It is possible the word is simply used for “fine leather,” based on the Egyptian ths. This has been followed by NRSV (“fine leather”) and NLT (“fine goatskin leather”) along with the present translation. See further HALOT 1720-21 s.v. תַּחַשׁ.
Numbers 4:7 sn The Hebrew actually has the “table of faces,” and this has been traditionally rendered “table of shewbread.”
Numbers 4:7 tn The Greek has “violet” instead of blue. This is also the case in vv. 8, 10, and 14.
Numbers 4:10 tn The “pole” or “bar” (מוֹט, mot) is of a different style than the poles used for transporting the ark. It seems to be a flexible bar carried by two men with the implements being transported tied to the bar. The NEB suggests the items were put in a bag and slung over the bar, but there is no indication of the manner.
Numbers 4:13 tc The Greek text has “and he must place the cover upon the altar” instead of “and they must take away the ashes from the altar.” The verb is the Piel form; its nuance seems to be privative, i.e., stating that the object is deprived of the material—the ashes are removed. This is the main altar in the courtyard.
Numbers 4:14 tc For this passage the Greek and Smr have a substantial addition concerning the purple cloth for the laver and its base, and a further covering of skin (see D. W. Gooding, “On the Use of the LXX for Dating Midrashic Elements in the Targums,” JTS 25 [1974]: 1-11).
Numbers 4:15 tn The verb form is the Piel perfect with a vav (ו) consecutive; it continues the future sequence, but in this verse forms a subordinate clause to the parallel sequential verb to follow.
Numbers 4:15 tn The Piel infinitive construct with the preposition serves as the direct object of the preceding verbal form, answering the question of what it was that they finished.
Numbers 4:15 tn Heb “after this.”
Numbers 4:15 tn The form is the Qal infinitive construct from נָשָׂא (nasaʾ, “to lift, carry”); here it indicates the purpose clause after the verb “come.”
Numbers 4:15 tn The imperfect tense may be given the nuance of negated instruction (“they are not to”) or negated obligation (“they must not”).
Numbers 4:15 tn Here the article expresses the generic idea of any holy thing (R. J. Williams, Hebrew Syntax, 19, §92).
Numbers 4:15 tn The verb is the perfect tense with a vav (ו) consecutive, following the imperfect tense warning against touching the holy thing. The form shows the consequence of touching the holy thing, and so could be translated “or they will die” or “lest they die.” The first is stronger.
Numbers 4:15 tn The word מַשָּׂא (massaʾ) is normally rendered “burden,” especially in prophetic literature. It indicates the load that one must carry, whether an oracle, or here the physical responsibility.
Numbers 4:16 tn This is supplied to the line to clarify “appointed.”
Numbers 4:16 tn Heb “and.”
Numbers 4:16 sn One would assume that he would prepare and wrap these items, but that the Kohathites would carry them to the next place.
Numbers 4:18 sn The verb is simply the Hiphil, “do not cut off.” The context calls for a permissive nuance—“do not let them be cut off.” It was a difficult task to be handling the holy things correctly; Moses and Aaron were to see to it that they did it right and did not handle the objects, that is, Moses and Aaron were to safeguard their lives by making certain that proper procedures were followed.
Numbers 4:19 tn The word order is different in the Hebrew text: Do this…and they will live. Consequently, the verb “and they will live” is a perfect tense with a vav (ו) consecutive to express the future consequence of “doing this” for them.
Numbers 4:19 tn The perfect tense with vav (ו) consecutive continues the instruction for Aaron.
Numbers 4:19 tn The distributive sense is obtained by the repetition, “a man” and “a man.”
Numbers 4:20 tn In the Hebrew text the verse has as the subject “they,” but to avoid confusion the antecedent has been clarified in the translation.
Numbers 4:24 tn The two forms are the infinitive construct and then the noun: “to serve and for the burden.” They are to serve and they are to take the responsibility. The infinitive is explaining the verb.
Numbers 4:26 tc This whole clause is not in the Greek text; it is likely missing due to homoioteleuton.
Numbers 4:26 tn The work of these people would have been very demanding, since the size and weight of the various curtains and courtyard hangings would have been great. For a detailed discussion of these, see the notes in the book of Exodus on the construction of the items.
Numbers 4:27 tn The term “whether” is supplied to introduce the enumerated parts of the explanatory phrase.
Numbers 4:27 tn Here again is the use of the noun “burden” in the sense of the loads they were to carry (see the use of carts in Num 7:7).
Numbers 4:27 tn The expression is literally “upon/at the mouth of” (עַל־פִּי, ʿal pi); it means that the work of these men would be under the direct orders of Aaron and his sons.
Numbers 4:27 tn Or “burden.”
Numbers 4:28 tn Or “the direction” (NASB, TEV); Heb “under/by the hand of.” The word “hand” is often used idiomatically for “power” or “authority.” So also in vv. 33, 37, 45, 48.
Numbers 4:28 sn The material here suggests that Eleazar had heavier responsibilities than Ithamar, Aaron’s fourth and youngest son. It is the first indication that the Zadokite Levites would take precedence over the Ithamar Levites (see 1 Chr 24:3-6).
Numbers 4:31 sn More recent studies have concluded that these supports were made of two long uprights joined by cross-bars (like a ladder). They were frames rather than boards, meaning that the structure under the tent was not a solid building. It also meant that they would have been lighter to carry.
Numbers 4:32 tn Heb “you shall assign by names the vessels of the responsibility of their burden.”
Numbers 4:47 tn The text multiplies the vocabulary of service here in the summary. In the Hebrew text the line reads literally: “everyone who came to serve the service of serving, and the service of burden.” The Levites came into service in the shrine, and that involved working in the sanctuary as well as carrying it from one place to the next.
Numbers 4:49 tn The verb is the simple perfect tense—“he numbered them.” There is no expressed subject; therefore, the verb can be rendered as a passive.
Numbers 4:49 tn Or “his burden.”
Numbers 4:49 tn The passive form simply reads “those numbered by him.” Because of the cryptic nature of the word, some suggest reading a preterite, “and they were numbered.” This is supported by the Greek, Syriac, Targum, and Vulgate. It would follow in the emendation that the relative pronoun be changed to “just as” (כַּאֲשֶׁר, kaʾasher). The MT is impossible the way it stands; it can only be rendered into smooth English by adding something that is missing.

Numbers 4

New International Reader's Version

The Families of Kohath

4 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, ²“Count the Levites who belong to the families of Kohath. Make a list of them family by family. ³Count all the men 30 to 50 years old. Those are the men who must come and serve at the tent of meeting.

⁴“Here is the work the men of Kohath must do at the tent of meeting. They must take care of the things that are very holy. ⁵When the camp is ready to move, Aaron and his sons must go into the tent. They must take down the curtain that hides the ark where the tablets of the covenant law are kept. They must cover the ark with the curtain. ⁶Then they must cover that with strong leather. They must spread a solid blue cloth over the leather. And they must put the poles in place.

⁷“They must spread a blue cloth over the table for the holy bread. They must put the plates, dishes and bowls on the cloth. They must also put the jars for drink offerings on it. The bread that is always kept there must remain on it. ⁸They must spread a bright red cloth over everything. Then they must cover that with the strong leather. And they must put the poles of the table in place.

⁹“They must get a blue cloth. With it they must cover the lampstand that gives light. They must also cover its lamps, trays and wick cutters. And they must cover all its jars. The jars are for the olive oil used in the lampstand. ¹⁰Then Aaron and his sons must wrap the lampstand and all the things used with it. They must cover it with the strong leather. And they must put it on a frame to carry it.

¹¹“They must spread a blue cloth over the gold altar for burning incense. They must cover that with the strong leather. And they must put the poles of the altar in place.

¹²“They must get all the things used for serving in the sacred tent. They must wrap them in a blue cloth. They must cover that with the strong leather. Then they must put those things on a frame to carry them.

¹³“They must remove the ashes from the bronze altar for burnt offerings. They must spread a purple cloth over it. ¹⁴Then they must place all the tools on it. The tools are used for serving at the altar. They include the pans for carrying ashes. They also include the meat forks, shovels and sprinkling bowls. Aaron and his sons must cover the altar with the strong leather. And they must put its poles in place.

¹⁵“Aaron and his sons must cover all the holy things that belong to the holy tent. Only then are the men of Kohath to come and carry everything. They must do so only when the camp is ready to move. But they must not touch the holy things. If they do, they will die. The men of Kohath must carry everything in the tent of meeting.

¹⁶“Eleazar the priest will be in charge of the olive oil for the light. He is the son of Aaron. Eleazar will be in charge of the sweet-smelling incense. He will be in charge of the regular grain offering and the anointing oil. He will be in charge of the entire holy tent. He will also be in charge of everything in it. That includes all the things that belong to the tent.”

¹⁷The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron. He said, ¹⁸“Make sure that the Kohath families are not destroyed from among the Levites. ¹⁹I want them to live and not die when they come near the very holy things. So here is what you must do for them. Aaron and his sons must go into the sacred tent and tell each man what to do. They must tell each man what to carry. ²⁰But the men of Kohath must not go in and look at the holy things. They must not look at them even for a moment. If they do, they will die.”

The Families of Gershon

²¹The Lord said to Moses, ²²“Count the families of Gershon. Make a list of them family by family. ²³Count all the men 30 to 50 years old. Those are the men who must come and serve at the tent of meeting.

²⁴“Here is how the families of Gershon must serve. They must carry things. ²⁵They must carry the curtains of the holy tent of meeting. They must carry its covering and the outside covering of strong leather. They must carry the curtains that cover the entrance to the tent of meeting. ²⁶They must carry the curtains of the courtyard. The courtyard is all around the holy tent and altar. They must carry the curtain for the entrance. They must carry the ropes. They must also carry all the supplies used for any purpose in the tent. The families of Gershon must do everything that needs to be done with those things. ²⁷All their work must be done under the direction of Aaron and his sons. That includes carrying and everything else they do. Aaron and his sons must tell them what to carry. And that will be their work. ²⁸It is what the families of Gershon must do at the tent of meeting. They must work under the direction of Ithamar the priest. He is the son of Aaron.

The Families of Merari

²⁹“Count the families of Merari. Count them family by family. ³⁰Count all the men 30 to 50 years old. Those are the men who must come and serve at the tent of meeting. ³¹Here is the work they must do at the tent of meeting. They must carry the frames of the holy tent. They must carry its crossbars, posts and bases. ³²They must also carry the posts of the courtyard. The courtyard is all around the holy tent. And they must carry the bases for the posts as well as their tent stakes and ropes. They must also carry all the supplies and everything connected with their use. Tell each man exactly what to carry. ³³That is the work the families of Merari must do at the tent of meeting. They must work under the direction of Ithamar the priest. He is the son of Aaron.”

Counting the Families of the Levites

³⁴Moses, Aaron and the leaders of the community counted the men of Kohath. They counted them family by family.

³⁵They counted all the men from 30 to 50 years old. They were the men who came and served at the tent of meeting. ³⁶There were 2,750 men. They were counted family by family. ³⁷That was the total of all the men in the families of Kohath who served at the tent of meeting. Moses and Aaron counted them. They did just as the Lord had commanded through Moses.

³⁸The men of Gershon were counted family by family.

³⁹All the men from 30 to 50 years old were counted. They were the men who came and served at the tent of meeting. ⁴⁰There were 2,630 men. They were counted family by family. ⁴¹That was the total of the men in the families of Gershon who served at the tent of meeting. Moses and Aaron counted them. They did just as the Lord had commanded.

⁴²The men of Merari were counted family by family.

⁴³All the men from 30 to 50 years old were counted. They were the men who came and served at the tent of meeting. ⁴⁴There were 3,200 men. They were counted family by family. ⁴⁵That was the total of the men in the families of Merari. Moses and Aaron counted them. They did just as the Lord had commanded through Moses.

⁴⁶So Moses and Aaron counted all the Levites. The leaders of Israel helped them. They counted the Levites family by family. ⁴⁷All the men from 30 to 50 years old were counted. They were the men who came and served at the tent of meeting. They were also supposed to carry it. ⁴⁸The total number of men was 8,580. ⁴⁹Everything was done as the Lord had commanded through Moses. Each man was given his work. And each one was told what to carry.

So they were counted, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.

New English Translation (NET)

New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

Numbers 4 New English Translation