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

Expanded Bible

The Jobs of the Kohath Family

4 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, ²“·Count [Take a census of; ^LLift the head of] the Kohathites ·among [or separate from] the Levites by ·family groups [clans] and families. ³·Count [Take a census of; ^LLift the head of] the men from thirty to fifty years old, all who come to serve in the Meeting Tent.

⁴“The Kohathites are responsible for the most holy things in the Meeting Tent. ⁵When the ·Israelites are [^Lcamp is] ready to move, Aaron and his sons must go into the ·Holy Tent [Tabernacle], take down the curtain, and cover the Ark of the ·Agreement [Covenant; Treaty; ^LTestimony; Ex. 25:10] with it. ⁶Over this they must put a covering made from ·fine leather [or sea cow hide; Ex. 26:14], then spread the solid blue cloth over that [Ex. 26:1–6], and put the poles in place.

⁷“Then they must spread a blue cloth over the table for the ·bread that shows a person is in God’s presence [Bread of Presence; Ex. 25:30]. They must put the plates, pans, bowls, and the jars for drink offerings on the table; they must leave the bread that is always there on the table. ⁸Then they must put a ·red [crimson] cloth over all of these things, cover everything with ·fine leather [or sea cow hide; Ex. 26:14], and put the poles in place.

⁹“With a blue cloth they must cover the ·lampstand [^LMenorah; Ex. 25:31–40], its lamps, its wick trimmers, its trays, and all the jars for the oil used in the lamps. ¹⁰Then they must wrap everything in ·fine leather [or sea cow hide; Ex. 26:14] and put all these things on a frame for carrying them.

¹¹“They must spread a blue cloth over the gold altar [^Cthe altar of incense; Ex. 30:1–6], cover it with ·fine leather [or sea cow hide; Ex. 26:14], and put the poles in place.

¹²“They must gather all the things used for serving in the Holy Place and wrap them in a blue cloth. Then they must cover that with ·fine leather [or sea cow hide; Ex. 26:14] and put these things on a frame for carrying them.

¹³“They must clean the ashes off the bronze altar [Ex. 27:1–8] and spread a purple cloth over it. ¹⁴They must gather all the things used for serving at the altar—the ·pans for carrying the fire [firepans], the meat forks, the shovels, and the ·bowls [basins]—and put them on the bronze altar. Then they must spread a covering of ·fine leather [or sea cow hide; Ex. 26:14] over it and put the poles in place.

¹⁵“When the ·Israelites are [^Lcamp is] ready to move, and when Aaron and his sons have covered the ·holy furniture [or Holy Place] and all the holy things, the Kohathites may go in and carry them away. In this way they won’t touch the holy things and die. It is the Kohathites’ job to carry the things that are in the Meeting Tent.

¹⁶“Eleazar son of Aaron, the priest, will be responsible for the ·Holy Tent [Tabernacle] and for everything in it, for all the holy things it has: the oil for the lamp [Ex. 27:20–21], the sweet-smelling incense, the continual ·grain [^Lgift; tribute] offering [Lev. 2:1], and the oil used to appoint priests [Ex. 30:22–38] and things to the Lord’s service.”

¹⁷The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, ¹⁸“Don’t let the ·Kohathites [^Lthe tribe of the clans of Kohath] be cut off from the Levites. ¹⁹Do this for the Kohathites so that they may go near the Most Holy Place and live and not die: Aaron and his sons must go in and show each Kohathite what to do and what to carry. ²⁰The Kohathites must not enter and look at the holy things, even for a second, or they will die.”

The Jobs of the Gershon Family

²¹The Lord said to Moses, ²²“·Count [Take a census of; ^LLift the head of] the Gershonites by families and ·family groups [clans]. ²³·Count [Take a census of; ^LLift the head of] the men from thirty to fifty years old, all who have a job to do in the Meeting Tent.

²⁴“This is what the Gershonite ·family groups [clans] must do and what they must carry. ²⁵They must carry the curtains of the ·Holy Tent [Tabernacle], the Meeting Tent, its covering, and its outer covering made from ·fine leather [or sea cow hide; Ex. 26:14]. They must also carry the ·curtains [screen] for the entrance to the Meeting Tent, ²⁶the curtains of the courtyard [Ex. 27:9–19] that go around the ·Holy Tent [Tabernacle] and the altar [Ex. 27:1–8], the ·curtain [screen] for the entry to the courtyard, the ropes, and all the things used with the curtains. They must do everything connected with these things. ²⁷Aaron and his sons are in charge of what the Gershonites do or carry; you tell them what they are responsible for carrying. ²⁸This is the work of the ·Gershonite family group [^Lclan of the sons of Gershon] at the Meeting Tent. Ithamar son of Aaron, the priest, will direct their work.

The Jobs of the Merari Family

²⁹“·Count [Take a census of; ^LLift the head of] the ·Merarite families and [^Lsons of Merari by] ·family groups [clans]. ³⁰·Count [Take a census of; ^LLift the head of] the men from thirty to fifty years old, all who work at the Meeting Tent. ³¹It is their job to carry the following as they serve in the Meeting Tent: the frames of the ·Holy Tent [Tabernacle], the crossbars, the ·posts [pillars], and bases, ³²in addition to the ·posts [pillars] that go around the courtyard, their bases, tent pegs, ropes, and everything that is used with the poles around the courtyard. Tell each man exactly what to carry. ³³This is the work the Merarite ·family group [clan] will do for the Meeting Tent. Ithamar son of Aaron, the priest, will direct their work.”

The Levite Families

³⁴Moses, Aaron, and the leaders of ·Israel [^Lthe community/congregation/assembly] counted the ·Kohathites [^Lsons/descendants of Kohath] by families and ·family groups [clans], ³⁵the men from thirty to fifty years old who were to work at the Meeting Tent. ³⁶There were 2,750 men in the ·family groups [clans]. ³⁷This was the total of the Kohath ·family groups [clans] who worked at the Meeting Tent, whom Moses and Aaron counted as the Lord had commanded Moses.

³⁸Also, the ·Gershonites [^Lthe sons/descendants of Gershon] were counted by families and ·family groups [clans], ³⁹the men from thirty to fifty years old who were given work at the Meeting Tent. ⁴⁰The families and family groups had 2,630 men. ⁴¹This was the total of the Gershon ·family groups [clans] who worked at the Meeting Tent, whom Moses and Aaron counted as the Lord had commanded.

⁴²Also, the men in the families and ·family groups [clans] of the ·Merari family [^Lsons/descendants of Merari] were counted, ⁴³the men from thirty to fifty years old who were to work at the Meeting Tent. ⁴⁴The family groups had 3,200 men. ⁴⁵This was the total of the Merari ·family groups [clans], whom Moses and Aaron counted as the Lord had commanded Moses.

⁴⁶So Moses, Aaron, and the leaders of Israel counted all the Levites by families and ·family groups [clans]. ⁴⁷They counted the men from thirty to fifty who were given work at the Meeting Tent and who carried the Tent. ⁴⁸The total number of these men was 8,580. ⁴⁹Each man was counted as the Lord had commanded Moses; each man was given his work and told what to carry as the Lord had commanded Moses.

New English Translation (NET)

Expanded Bible (EXB)

Numbers 4 New English Translation