Numbers 4
Lexham English Bible
The Census of the Kohathites
4 Yahweh spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, 2 “Take a census[a] of the descendants[b] of Kohath from the midst of the descendants[c] of Levi, according to their clans and their families,[d] 3 from thirty years old[e] and above, up to fifty years old,[f] everyone who comes to the service to do the work in the tent of assembly. 4 This is the work of the descendants[g] of Kohath in the tent of assembly, concerning the holiness of the sanctuary: 5 When setting out the camp, Aaron and his sons will go and lower the curtain of the covering and cover with it the ark of the testimony.[h] 6 They will put on it a covering of fine leather,[i] and they will spread a cloth of perfect blue over it, and they will place its poles. 7 And over the table of the presence they will spread out a blue cloth and put on it the plates, dishes, and libation bowls, and the pitchers of the libation; and the bread of continuity will be on it. 8 They will spread over it a scarlet cloth, and they will cover it with a covering of fine leather,[j] and they will place its poles. 9 They will take a blue cloth and cover the lampstand for the light source, its lamps, a pair of its tongs, its small pans, and all the vessels of its oil with which they attend to it. 10 They will put it and all its vessels inside a covering of fine leather[k] and put it on the carrying frame. 11 Over the altar of gold they will spread a blue cloth, and they will cover it with a covering of fine leather[l] and place its poles. 12 They will take all the vessels of the cultic service with which they serve in the sanctuary and put them on a blue cloth, and they will cover them with a covering of fine leather;[m] and they will put them on the carrying frame. 13 They will remove the fat-soaked ashes from the altar and spread a purple cloth over it; 14 they will put on it all the vessels with which they serve, the fire pans, forks, shovels, and bowls—all the vessels of the altar. They will spread on it a covering of fine leather;[n] and they will place its poles. 15 And when Aaron and his sons have finished covering the sanctuary and all the vessels of the sanctuary when the camp sets out, the descendants[o] of Kohath will come after to carry these, but they must not touch the sanctuary, or they will die. These are the load of the descendants[p] of Kohath in the tent of assembly.
16 “Eleazar son of Aaron the priest is to supervise the oil of the light source, the incense, the regular grain offering,[q] the oil of anointment, the supervision of all the tabernacle and all that is in it, in the sanctuary and in its vessels.”
17 Yahweh spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, 18 “You must not cut off the tribe of the clan of the Kohathites[r] from the midst of the Levites. 19 Do this to them and they will live and not die when they come near the most holy things. Aaron and his sons will go and appoint them, each one to his task and burden. 20 But they must not go and look for a moment[s] at the holy objects.”
21 Yahweh spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, 22 “Take a census[t] of the descendants[u] of Gershon also, according to their families[v] and clans, 23 from those twenty years old[w] and above until fifty years old;[x] you will muster[y] them, all who come to help to do the work of the tent of assembly. 24 This is the work of the clans of the Gershonites:[z] to serve and to carry. 25 They will carry the curtains of the tabernacle and the tent of assembly and its covering and the covering of fine leather,[aa] which is on top of it,[ab] and the curtain of the doorway of the tent of assembly, 26 and the curtains of the courtyard, and the covering for the doorway of the gate of the courtyard, which is all around on the tabernacle and altar, and their cords and all the vessels of their work; and all that is done to them they will do. 27 And all the work of the descendants[ac] of the Gershonites[ad] will be at the command[ae] of Aaron and his sons, for all they are to carry and for all their work, and you will appoint to them responsibility for all they are to carry. 28 This is the work of the clan of the descendants[af] of the Gershonites[ag] in the tent of assembly, and their responsibility lies under the direction[ah] of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.
29 “For the descendants[ai] of Merari according to their clans, according to their families,[aj] you will muster[ak] them; 30 from those thirty years old[al] and above until fifty years old;[am] you will muster[an] them, all who come to do the work of the tent of assembly. 31 And this is the responsibility of those who are to carry,[ao] all their work in the tent of assembly: the frames of the tabernacle and its bars, pillars, and bases, 32 and the pillars of the courtyard all around, and their bases, pegs, and cords, with all their vessels and for all their work. You will appoint by name the vessels that they are responsible to carry. 33 This is the work of the clan of the descendants[ap] of Merari, for all their work in the tent of assembly under the direction[aq] of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.”
34 And Moses and Aaron mustered the leaders of the community according to the house of their families,[ar] 35 from those thirty years old[as] and above until fifty years old;[at] everyone who comes to the service to work in the tent of assembly, 36 the ones counted[au] were two thousand seven hundred and fifty. 37 These were those counted of the clans of the Kohathites,[av] everyone who served in the tent of assembly whom Moses and Aaron mustered[aw] according to the command[ax] of Yahweh by the hand of Moses.[ay]
38 And the descendants[az] of Gershon counted according to their clans and according to their families,[ba] 39 from those thirty years old[bb] and above until fifty years old,[bc] everyone who comes to the service to work in the tent of assembly; 40 the ones counted,[bd] according to their clans, according to their families,[be] were two thousand six hundred and thirty. 41 These were those counted of the clans of the descendants[bf] of Gershon, everyone who serves in the tent of assembly whom Moses and Aaron mustered[bg] according to the command[bh] of Yahweh.
42 Those counted of the clans of the descendants[bi] of Merari according to their clans, according to their families,[bj] 43 from those thirty years old[bk] and above until fifty years old,[bl] everyone who comes to the service to work in the tent of assembly, 44 the ones counted,[bm] according to their clans, were three thousand two hundred. 45 These were those counted of the clans of the descendants[bn] of Merari, whom Moses and Aaron mustered[bo] according to the command[bp] of Yahweh by the hand of Moses.[bq]
46 All those counted of the Levites whom Moses and Aaron and all the leaders of Israel mustered[br] according to their clans, according to their families,[bs] 47 from those thirty years old[bt] and above until fifty years old,[bu] everyone who comes to the service to do the work of the service carrying in the tent of assembly, 48 the ones counted[bv] were eighty thousand five hundred and eighty. 49 According to the command[bw] of Yahweh by the hand of Moses[bx] they were mustered,[by] each man according to his service and according to their[bz] service and according to their[ca] burden; and so they were counted by him just as Yahweh commanded Moses.
Footnotes
- Numbers 4:2 Literally “and lift up the number of”
- Numbers 4:2 Or “sons”
- Numbers 4:2 Or “sons”
- Numbers 4:2 Literally “the house of their fathers”
- Numbers 4:3 Literally “a son of thirty years”
- Numbers 4:3 Literally “a son of fifty years”
- Numbers 4:4 Or “sons”
- Numbers 4:5 Or “the ark of the covenant”
- Numbers 4:6 Literally “the hide of a sea cow”
- Numbers 4:8 Literally “the hide of a sea cow”
- Numbers 4:10 Literally “the hide of a sea cow”
- Numbers 4:11 Literally “the hide of a sea cow”
- Numbers 4:12 Literally “the hide of a sea cow”
- Numbers 4:14 Literally “the hide of a sea cow”
- Numbers 4:15 Or “sons”
- Numbers 4:15 Or “sons”
- Numbers 4:16 Literally “the grain offering of continuity”
- Numbers 4:18 Hebrew “Kohathite”
- Numbers 4:20 Literally “as devouring”
- Numbers 4:22 Literally “And lift up the number of”
- Numbers 4:22 Or “sons”
- Numbers 4:22 Literally “the house of their fathers”
- Numbers 4:23 Literally “a son of twenty years”
- Numbers 4:23 Literally “a son of fifty years”
- Numbers 4:23 Or “count,” or “summon,” or “enroll”
- Numbers 4:24 Hebrew “Gershonite”
- Numbers 4:25 Literally “the hide of a sea cow”
- Numbers 4:25 Literally “is above upon it”
- Numbers 4:27 Or “sons”
- Numbers 4:27 Hebrew “Gershonite”
- Numbers 4:27 Literally “the mouth”
- Numbers 4:28 Or “sons”
- Numbers 4:28 Hebrew “Gershonite”
- Numbers 4:28 Literally “in the hand”
- Numbers 4:29 Or “sons”
- Numbers 4:29 Literally “the house of their fathers”
- Numbers 4:29 Or “count,” or “summon,” or “enroll”
- Numbers 4:30 Literally “a son of thirty years”
- Numbers 4:30 Literally “a son of fifty years”
- Numbers 4:30 Or “count,” or “summon,” or “enroll”
- Numbers 4:31 Literally “them carrying”
- Numbers 4:33 Or “sons”
- Numbers 4:33 Literally “in the hand”
- Numbers 4:34 Literally “the house of their fathers”
- Numbers 4:35 Literally “a son of thirty years”
- Numbers 4:35 Literally “a son of fifty years”
- Numbers 4:36 Literally “the ones counted of them,” or “the ones mustered of them”
- Numbers 4:37 Hebrew “Kohathite”
- Numbers 4:37 Or “counted,” or “summoned,” or “enrolled”
- Numbers 4:37 Literally “the mouth”
- Numbers 4:37 Or “through Moses”
- Numbers 4:38 Or “sons”
- Numbers 4:38 Literally “the house of their fathers”
- Numbers 4:39 Literally “a son of thirty years”
- Numbers 4:39 Literally “a son of fifty years”
- Numbers 4:40 Literally “the ones counted of them,” or “the ones mustered of them”
- Numbers 4:40 Literally “the house of their fathers”
- Numbers 4:41 Or “sons”
- Numbers 4:41 Or “counted,” or “summoned,” or “enrolled”
- Numbers 4:41 Literally “the mouth”
- Numbers 4:42 Or “sons”
- Numbers 4:42 Literally “the house of their fathers”
- Numbers 4:43 Literally “thirty years and above”
- Numbers 4:43 Literally “a son of fifty years”
- Numbers 4:44 Literally “the ones counted of them,” or “the ones mustered of them”
- Numbers 4:45 Or “sons”
- Numbers 4:45 Or “counted,” or “summoned,” or “enrolled”
- Numbers 4:45 Literally “the mouth”
- Numbers 4:45 Or “through Moses”
- Numbers 4:46 Or “counted,” or “summoned,” or “enrolled”
- Numbers 4:46 Literally “the house of their fathers”
- Numbers 4:47 Literally “a son of thirty years”
- Numbers 4:47 Literally “a son of fifty years”
- Numbers 4:48 Literally “the ones counted of them,” or “the ones mustered of them”
- Numbers 4:49 Literally “the mouth”
- Numbers 4:49 Or “through Moses”
- Numbers 4:49 Hebrew “he mustered”
- Numbers 4:49 Hebrew “his”
- Numbers 4:49 Hebrew “his”
Numbers 4
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Duties of the Kohathites
4 The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron: 2 “Among the Levites, take a census of the Kohathites(A) by their clans and their ancestral houses, 3 men from 30 years old to 50 years old—everyone who is qualified[a] to do work at the tent of meeting.
4 “The service of the Kohathites at the tent of meeting concerns the most holy objects.(B) 5 Whenever the camp is about to move on, Aaron and his sons are to go in, take down the screening veil, and cover the ark of the testimony with it.(C) 6 They are to place over this a covering made of manatee skin,[b] spread a solid blue cloth on top, and insert its poles.(D)
7 “They are to spread a blue cloth over the table of the Presence and place the plates and cups on it, as well as the bowls and pitchers for the drink offering. The regular bread offering is to be on it.(E) 8 They are to spread a scarlet cloth over them, cover them with a covering made of manatee skin,[c] and insert the poles in the table.(F)
9 “They are to take a blue cloth and cover the lampstand(G) used for light, with its lamps, snuffers, and firepans,(H) as well as its jars of oil by which they service it. 10 Then they must place it with all its utensils inside a covering made of manatee skin[d] and put them on the carrying frame.
11 “They are to spread a blue cloth over the gold altar,(I) cover it with a covering made of manatee skin,[e] and insert its poles.(J) 12 They are to take all the serving utensils they use in the sanctuary, place them in a blue cloth, cover them with a covering made of manatee skin,[f] and put them on a carrying frame.
13 “They are to remove the ashes from the bronze altar, spread a purple cloth over it, 14 and place all the equipment on it that they use in serving: the firepans, meat forks, shovels, and basins—all the equipment of the altar.(K) They are to spread a covering made of manatee skin[g] over it and insert its poles.[h](L)
15 “Aaron and his sons are to finish covering the holy objects and all their equipment whenever the camp is to move on. The Kohathites will come and carry them, but they are not to touch the holy objects or they will die.(M) These are the transportation duties of the Kohathites regarding the tent of meeting.
16 “Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, has oversight of the lamp oil,(N) the fragrant incense,(O) the daily grain offering,(P) and the anointing oil.(Q) He has oversight of the entire tabernacle and everything in it, the holy objects and their utensils.”[i]
17 Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron: 18 “Do not allow the Kohathite tribal clans to be wiped out from the Levites. 19 Do this for them so that they may live and not die when they come near the most holy objects:(R) Aaron and his sons are to go in and assign each man his task and transportation duty. 20 The Kohathites are not to go in and look at the holy objects, even for a moment,[j] or they will die.”
Duties of the Gershonites
21 The Lord spoke to Moses: 22 “Take a census of the Gershonites(S) also, by their ancestral houses and their clans. 23 Register men from 30 years old to 50 years old, everyone who is qualified to perform service, to do work at the tent of meeting. 24 This is the service of the Gershonite clans regarding work and transportation duties: 25 They are to transport the tabernacle curtains,(T) the tent of meeting with its covering and the covering made of manatee skin[k] on top of it, the screen for the entrance to the tent of meeting, 26 the hangings of the courtyard, the screen for the entrance at the gate of the courtyard that surrounds the tabernacle and the altar, along with their ropes and all the equipment for their service. They will carry out everything that needs to be done with these items.
27 “All the service of the Gershonites, all their transportation duties and all their other work, is to be done at the command of Aaron and his sons; you are to assign to them all that they are responsible to carry. 28 This is the service of the Gershonite clans at the tent of meeting, and their duties will be under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.
Duties of the Merarites
29 “As for the Merarites, you are to register them by their clans(U) and their ancestral houses. 30 Register men from 30 years old to 50 years old, everyone who is qualified to do the work of the tent of meeting. 31 This is what they are responsible to carry as the whole of their service at the tent of meeting: the supports of the tabernacle, with its crossbars, posts, and bases, 32 the posts of the surrounding courtyard with their bases, tent pegs, and ropes, including all their equipment and all the work related to them. You are to assign by name the items that they are responsible to carry. 33 This is the service of the Merarite clans regarding all their work at the tent of meeting, under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.”
Census of the Levites
34 So Moses, Aaron, and the leaders of the community registered the Kohathites by their clans and their ancestral houses, 35 men from 30 years old to 50 years old, everyone who was qualified for work at the tent of meeting. 36 The men registered by their clans numbered 2,750. 37 These were the registered men of the Kohathite clans, everyone who could serve at the tent of meeting. Moses and Aaron registered them at the Lord’s command through Moses.
38 The Gershonites were registered by their clans and their ancestral houses, 39 men from 30 years old to 50 years old, everyone who was qualified for work at the tent of meeting. 40 The men registered by their clans and their ancestral houses numbered 2,630. 41 These were the registered men of the Gershonite clans. At the Lord’s command Moses and Aaron registered everyone who could serve at the tent of meeting.
42 The men of the Merarite clans were registered by their clans and their ancestral houses, 43 those from 30 years old to 50 years old, everyone who was qualified for work at the tent of meeting. 44 The men registered by their clans numbered 3,200. 45 These were the registered men of the Merarite clans; Moses and Aaron registered them at the Lord’s command through Moses.
46 Moses, Aaron, and the leaders of Israel registered all the Levites by their clans and their ancestral houses, 47 from 30 years old to 50 years old, everyone who was qualified to do the work of serving at the tent of meeting and transporting it. 48 Their registered men numbered 8,580. 49 At the Lord’s command they were registered under the direction of Moses, each one according to his work and transportation duty, and his assignment was as the Lord commanded Moses.
Footnotes
- Numbers 4:3 Lit everyone entering the service
- Numbers 4:6 Or of dolphin skin, or of fine leather; Hb obscure
- Numbers 4:8 Or of dolphin skin, or of fine leather; Hb obscure
- Numbers 4:10 Or of dolphin skin, or of fine leather; Hb obscure
- Numbers 4:11 Or of dolphin skin, or of fine leather; Hb obscure
- Numbers 4:12 Or of dolphin skin, or of fine leather; Hb obscure
- Numbers 4:14 Or of dolphin skin, or of fine leather; Hb obscure
- Numbers 4:14 Sam, LXX add They are to take a purple cloth and cover the wash basin and its base. They are to place them in a covering made of manatee skin and put them on the carrying frame.
- Numbers 4:16 Or the sanctuary and its furnishings
- Numbers 4:20 Or at the covering of the holy objects
- Numbers 4:25 Or of dolphin skin, or of fine leather; Hb obscure
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