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Numeri 4
Het Boek

De taak van de zonen van Kehat

4 1-3 Toen zei de Here tegen Mozes en Aäron: ‘Tel alle mannen van dertig tot vijftig jaar uit het geslacht van Kehat, uit de stam van Levi, die dienst kunnen doen in de tabernakel. 4 Dit zijn hun heilige taken: 5 wanneer het kamp wordt opgebroken, moeten Aäron en zijn zonen de tabernakel binnengaan, het gordijn voor het Heilige der Heiligen naar beneden halen en de ark ermee bedekken. 6 Daarna zullen zij het gordijn met dassenvellen afdekken en daar overheen een hemelsblauw kleed leggen. Dan zullen de draagstokken van de ark door de ringen worden gestoken. 7 Vervolgens moeten zij een hemelsblauw kleed leggen over de tafel waarop de toonbroden liggen en daarop de schotels, schalen, kommen, kannen en toonbroden neerleggen. 8 Daar overheen zullen zij een scharlaken kleed leggen en dat nog eens bedekken met dassenvellen. Daarna zullen zij de draagstokken in de ringen aan de tafel schuiven. 9 Dan moeten zij de kandelaar, de lampen, de snuiters, de bakjes en het reservoir met olijfolie bedekken met een hemelsblauw kleed. 10 Al deze voorwerpen zullen dan worden afgedekt met dassenvellen en deze bundel zal op een draagbaar worden gezet. 11 Daarna moeten zij het gouden altaar eerst met een hemelsblauw kleed en daarna met dassenvellen afdekken en de draagstokken door de ringen steken. 12 Alle overgebleven voorwerpen in de tabernakel moeten in een hemelsblauw kleed worden gewikkeld, afgedekt met dassenvellen en op de draagbaar worden gezet. 13 De as moet van het altaar worden verwijderd, waarna het altaar zal worden afgedekt met een roodpurperen kleed. 14 Alle toebehoren van het altaar moeten op dat kleed worden gelegd—de vuurpannen, de vorken, de scheppen en de schalen—en daar overheen zal een afdekking van dassenvellen komen te liggen. Ten slotte moeten dan de draagstokken worden aangebracht.

15 Wanneer Aäron en zijn zonen het heilige en het toebehoren hebben ingepakt, moeten de familieleden van Kehat alle voorwerpen oppakken en vervoeren naar de volgende kampplaats. Zij mogen de heilige voorwerpen echter niet aanraken, anders zullen zij sterven. Dit zijn de heilige taken die aan de zonen van Kehat worden opgedragen bij het vervoer van de tabernakel. 16 Eleazar, de zoon van Aäron, zal de verantwoordelijkheid dragen voor de lampolie, het geurige reukwerk, het dagelijkse spijsoffer en de zalfolie, in feite is hij verantwoordelijk voor de hele tabernakel en alles wat daarbij hoort.’

17-19 Toen zei de Here tegen Mozes en Aäron: ‘Laten de Levieten uit de stam van Kehat zichzelf niet vernietigen! Om te voorkomen dat zij sterven wanneer zij de allerheiligste voorwerpen vervoeren, moeten Aäron en zijn zonen met hen mee naar binnen gaan en aanwijzen wat ieder moet dragen. 20 Zij mogen echter niet zomaar naar binnen gaan, anders zouden zij de heilige voorwerpen kunnen zien en moeten sterven.’

21-23 En de Here zei tegen Mozes: ‘Tel alle mannen van dertig tot vijftig jaar uit het geslacht van Gerson die geschikt zijn voor het heilige werk in de tabernakel. 24 Dit zijn hun taken: 25 zij moeten de gordijnen van de tabernakel, de tabernakel zelf met zijn dekkleden, de dakbedekking van dassenvellen en het gordijn voor de ingang van de tabernakel dragen. 26 Verder moeten zij ook de gordijnen dragen die rond de voorhof hangen, het gordijn voor de ingang van de voorhof dat het altaar en de tabernakel omringt, het altaar, de scheerlijnen en al het toebehoren. Zij zijn volledig verantwoordelijk voor het vervoer van deze voorwerpen. 27 Aäron en ieder van zijn zonen mogen de Levieten uit het geslacht van Gerson opdrachten geven en aanwijzen wat zij moeten dragen, 28 maar de Gersonieten zijn direct verantwoording schuldig aan Aärons zoon Itamar.

29,30 Tel nu alle mannen van dertig tot vijftig jaar uit het geslacht van Merari die geschikt zijn voor de dienst in de tabernakel. 31 Wanneer de tabernakel wordt verplaatst, dragen zij de panelen, de balken en de pilaren met hun voetstukken van de tabernakel, 32 de pilaren van de voorhof met hun voetstukken, de grondpennen en de scheerlijnen en alles wat nodig is voor hun gebruik en onderhoud. Verdeel de taken per man, zodat ieder weet wat hij dragen moet. 33 De Levieten uit het geslacht van Merari zijn ook directe verantwoording schuldig aan Aärons zoon Itamar.’

34,35 Zo hielden Mozes, Aäron en de andere leiders een telling onder de mannen van dertig tot vijftig jaar uit het geslacht van Kehat 36 en kwamen op een totaal van 2750 mannen die geschikt waren voor de dienst in de tabernakel. 37 Dit werd gedaan volgens de opdrachten die de Here Mozes had gegeven.

38-41 Eenzelfde telling leverde voor het geslacht van Gerson een totaal van 2630 mannen op.

42-45 Na telling van de mannen uit het geslacht van Merari kwam men daar op het totaal van 3200 mannen. 46-48 Zodoende kwamen Mozes, Aäron en de andere leiders op een totaal van 8580 Levieten van dertig tot vijftig jaar, die geschikt waren voor de dienst in de tabernakel en voor het vervoer van de tabernakel en het toebehoren. 49 In overeenstemming met de opdracht van de Here aan Mozes, droeg men ieder van deze getelden zijn taak op, zodat ieder naar vermogen een deel van alles kon dragen.

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Nombres 4
La Bible du Semeur

Les fonctions des Qehatites

4 L’Eternel parla à Moïse et à Aaron et dit : 2 Fais le recensement des descendants de Qehath d’entre les fils de Lévi, selon leurs familles et leurs groupes familiaux, 3 depuis l’âge de trente ans jusqu’à celui de cinquante ans, c’est-à-dire de tous ceux qui seront recrutés pour accomplir quelque tâche dans la tente de la Rencontre.

4 Voici quelle est la tâche des Qehatites dans la tente de la Rencontre : ils auront la responsabilité des objets très saints. 5 Lorsqu’on lèvera le camp, Aaron et ses fils descendront le voile de séparation, ils en couvriront le coffre de l’acte de l’alliance, 6 puis ils mettront par-dessus une couverture de peau de dauphin sur laquelle ils étendront une étoffe entièrement teinte de pourpre violette ; ensuite, ils fixeront les barres servant à transporter le coffre[a]. 7 Ils étendront également une étoffe de pourpre violette sur la table des pains qui sont exposés devant moi[b], ils y mettront les plats, les coupes, les bols et les gobelets pour la libation. Quant au pain de l’oblation perpétuelle, il restera sur la table. 8 Ils étendront sur ces objets une étoffe de rouge éclatant, et recouvriront le tout d’une couverture de peau de dauphin, puis ils y fixeront les barres pour le transport. 9 Ils prendront une étoffe de pourpre violette et ils recouvriront le chandelier, ses lampes, ses pincettes, ses mouchettes et tous les récipients d’huile destinés à son service. 10 Ils l’envelopperont avec tous ses accessoires dans une housse de peau de dauphin, et déposeront le tout sur un brancard. 11 Ils déploieront une étoffe de pourpre violette sur l’autel d’or, et ils le recouvriront d’une couverture de peau de dauphin ; puis ils y fixeront les barres pour le transport. 12 Ils prendront tous les objets dont on se sert pour officier dans le sanctuaire, ils les mettront dans une étoffe de pourpre violette, et les envelopperont d’une couverture de peau de dauphin, puis ils les déposeront sur un brancard. 13 Ils ôteront les cendres grasses de l’autel[c] et étendront par-dessus une étoffe de pourpre écarlate 14 sur laquelle ils poseront tous les instruments utilisés pour le service de l’autel : les encensoirs, les fourchettes, les pelles à cendres et les bassines ; puis ils étendront par-dessus le tout une couverture de peau de dauphin et fixeront les barres pour le transport.

15 Quand Aaron et ses fils auront fini de couvrir le sanctuaire et tous ses ustensiles, au moment du départ du camp, les Qehatites viendront pour les transporter. Ils ne toucheront pas directement au sanctuaire, car ils seraient mis à mort. Telle est la responsabilité des Qehatites concernant la tente de la Rencontre.

16 Quant à Eléazar, fils du prêtre Aaron, il sera responsable de l’huile du chandelier, de l’encens aromatique, de l’offrande perpétuelle et de l’huile d’onction ; il assurera la supervision de tout le tabernacle, de tout ce qui s’y trouve, tant du sanctuaire que de ses accessoires.

17 L’Eternel parla à Moïse et Aaron et dit : 18 N’exposez pas le groupe des familles des Qehatites à être retranché du milieu des lévites. 19 Voici la manière dont vous agirez à leur égard pour qu’ils vivent et ne soient pas frappés de mort lorsqu’ils s’approcheront des objets très saints : Toi, Aaron et tes fils, vous entrerez et vous assignerez à chacun sa tâche en lui indiquant ce qu’il devra transporter. 20 Ils ne doivent jamais entrer seuls pour regarder le sanctuaire, ne fût-ce qu’un instant, car ils mourraient.

Les fonctions des Guershonites

21 L’Eternel parla à Moïse et dit : 22 Fais aussi le recensement des descendants de Guershôn, selon leurs groupes familiaux et leurs familles. 23 Tu compteras tous les hommes âgés de trente à cinquante ans, tous ceux qui seront recrutés pour effectuer une tâche quelconque dans la tente de la Rencontre.

24 Voici quelle sera la tâche des familles des Guershonites, ce qu’ils auront à faire et à transporter : 25 ils porteront les tentures du tabernacle ainsi que la tente de la Rencontre avec sa couverture et la bâche de peau de dauphin qui se met par-dessus, le rideau de l’entrée de la tente de la Rencontre, 26 les toiles du parvis, avec le rideau de la porte du parvis, qui entourent le tabernacle et l’autel, leurs cordages et tous les ustensiles qui en dépendent. Ils feront tout le travail qui s’y rapporte. 27 Ils feront tout leur service sous la direction d’Aaron et de ses fils, pour porter ce qu’ils doivent et accomplir leurs tâches ; vous leur indiquerez tout ce qu’ils auront à transporter. 28 Tel est le service des familles des Guershonites concernant la tente de la Rencontre. Ils l’accompliront sous la direction d’Itamar, fils du prêtre Aaron.

Les fonctions des Merarites

29 Tu feras aussi le recensement des descendants de Merari, par familles et par groupes familiaux. 30 Tu compteras tous les hommes âgés de trente à cinquante ans, ceux qui seront recrutés pour effectuer une tâche quelconque dans la tente de la Rencontre.

31 Voici quelles parties de la tente de la Rencontre ils auront pour tâche de transporter : les planches du tabernacle, ses traverses, ses piliers, ses socles, 32 les piliers qui entourent le parvis, leurs socles, leurs piquets, leurs cordages, ainsi que tous les outils nécessaires à leur montage. Vous attribuerez à chacun nominativement les objets qu’il aura pour tâche de transporter. 33 Tel est le service des familles des Merarites, c’est là leur travail concernant la tente de la Rencontre. Ils l’accompliront sous la direction d’Itamar, fils du prêtre Aaron.

Le compte des lévites en service

34 Moïse, Aaron et les chefs de la communauté firent le recensement des Qehatites, par familles et par groupes familiaux ; 35 ils dénombrèrent tous les hommes âgés de trente à cinquante ans, ceux qui devaient être recrutés pour accomplir une tâche quelconque dans la tente de la Rencontre. 36 L’effectif total de leurs familles était de 2 750. 37 Tel fut le contingent des familles des Qehatites qui avaient tous un service à effectuer dans la tente de la Rencontre. Moïse et Aaron en firent le recensement comme l’Eternel l’avait ordonné à Moïse.

38-41 Les descendants de Guershôn recensés de la même manière étaient au nombre de 2 630 ; 42-45 ceux des descendants de Merari : 3 200. 46 Le nombre total des lévites recensés par Moïse, Aaron et les chefs d’Israël, par familles et par groupes familiaux, 47 âgés de trente à cinquante ans, et qui devaient être recrutés pour accomplir leur tâche dans la tente de la Rencontre, 48 était de 8 580. 49 Sur l’ordre de l’Eternel, Moïse assigna à chacun le service qu’il devait accomplir et ce qu’il devait transporter, comme l’Eternel le lui avait ordonné.

Footnotes

  1. 4.6 Voir Ex 26.1-14 ; 27.9-16.
  2. 4.7 Voir Lv 24.5-9.
  3. 4.13 L’autel des holocaustes (Ex 27.1-8). La cuve de bronze n’est pas mentionnée (comme dans 3.31).
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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, 3 from thirty years old and upward to fifty years old, all who enter the company[c] 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.[d] 5 When 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. 6 Then 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. 8 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.[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. 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[j] 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.[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]

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[w] from among the Levites; 19 but 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. 20 But 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

21 Then the Lord spoke to Moses: 22 “Also take a census of the Gershonites also, 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[ab] 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,[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. 28 This 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. 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[ak] 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 name the items that each man is responsible to carry.[al] 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.”

Summary

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 2,750. 37 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, 39 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 2,630. 41 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 3,200. 45 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[am] relating to the tent of meeting— 48 those of them numbered were 8,580. 49 According 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

  1. 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).
  2. 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, melaʾkhah) 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).
  3. 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.”
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. Numbers 4:7 sn The Hebrew actually has the “table of faces,” and this has been traditionally rendered “table of shewbread.”
  8. Numbers 4:7 tn The Greek has “violet” instead of blue. This is also the case in vv. 8, 10, and 14.
  9. 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.
  10. 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.
  11. 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).
  12. 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.
  13. 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.
  14. Numbers 4:15 tn Heb “after this.”
  15. 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.”
  16. 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”).
  17. Numbers 4:15 tn Here the article expresses the generic idea of any holy thing (R. J. Williams, Hebrew Syntax, 19, §92).
  18. 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.
  19. 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.
  20. Numbers 4:16 tn This is supplied to the line to clarify “appointed.”
  21. Numbers 4:16 tn Heb “and.”
  22. 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.
  23. 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.
  24. 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.
  25. Numbers 4:19 tn The perfect tense with vav (ו) consecutive continues the instruction for Aaron.
  26. Numbers 4:19 tn The distributive sense is obtained by the repetition, “a man” and “a man.”
  27. 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.
  28. 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.
  29. Numbers 4:26 tc This whole clause is not in the Greek text; it is likely missing due to homoioteleuton.
  30. 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.
  31. Numbers 4:27 tn The term “whether” is supplied to introduce the enumerated parts of the explanatory phrase.
  32. 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).
  33. 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.
  34. Numbers 4:27 tn Or “burden.”
  35. 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.
  36. 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).
  37. 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.
  38. Numbers 4:32 tn Heb “you shall assign by names the vessels of the responsibility of their burden.”
  39. 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.
  40. 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.
  41. Numbers 4:49 tn Or “his burden.”
  42. 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.
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