Numbers 4
International Standard Version
The Duties of the Descendants of Kohath
4 The Lord told Moses and Aaron, 2 “Take a census[a] of the descendants of Kohath from among the descendants of Levi according to their tribes and ancestral houses 3 from 30 years and older through the age of 50 years, from everyone who can enter the service to perform work at the Tent of Meeting.
4 “Here’s what the descendants of Kohath are to do regarding the Tent of Meeting and what’s inside the Most Holy Place: 5 When the camp is about to travel, Aaron and his sons are to come and take down the veil of the curtain and cover the Ark of the Testimony with it. 6 They are to set a leather-dyed[b] skin covering over it, cover it with a pure blue cloth, and then insert its poles.
7 “They are to spread a blue cloth over the table of the Presence and on top of it the dishes, pans, bowls, pitchers for drink offerings,[c] and the bread of presence are to be on it continually. 8 They are to spread over them a scarlet cloth and a leather-dyed[d] skin covering and then insert its poles.
9 “They are to take a blue cloth and cover the lamp stand for the light with its lamp, lamp-snuffers, censer, and all the utensils for its oil with which they minister. 10 Then they are to put them with all the other[e] utensils on the leather-dyed[f] skin covering and set them on the beams for transport.[g]
11 “On the golden altar, they are to spread a blue cloth, cover it with a leather-dyed[h] skin covering, and then insert its poles. 12 Then they are to take all the utensils for service with which they minister at the sanctuary, set them on the blue cloth, cover them with the leather-dyed[i] skin covering, and then set them on the beams for transport. 13 They are also to remove the ashes on the altar and spread a purple cloth over it. 14 Then they are to put all the instruments with which they minister there—trays, forks, shovels, bowls, and all the utensils of the altar. They are to spread over it a leather-dyed[j] skin covering and then insert its poles.
15 “When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the sanctuary and all the utensils of the sanctuary, and the camp is about to travel, then the descendants of Kohath are to come and carry them, but they are not to touch the most sacred objects, so they won’t die. These are the duties of the descendants of Kohath at the Tent of Meeting.”
16 “Now the duty of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest is to maintain the oil for the light, the spiced incense, the daily offerings, andthe oil for anointing, to carry out all the duties of the tent and the sanctuary, and to maintain[k] its utensils.”
Protecting the Descendants of Kohath
17 Then the Lord told Moses and Aaron, 18 “You are not to eliminate the tribe of the families of the descendants of Kohath from the descendants of Levi. 19 But do this for them so that they may live and not die when they approach the Most Holy Place: Aaron and his sons are to go in and set specific responsibilities for each of them to carry out.[l] 20 But they are not to go in to see the sanctuary as it is being covered,[m] so they won’t die.”
Eleazar’s Duties
21 Then the Lord told Moses, 22 “Take a census[n] of the descendants of Gershon according to their ancestral house and tribes. 23 Count their number from between 30 to 50 years old, including everyone who can enter the service to perform work at the Tent of Meeting.”
Gershonite Responsibilities
24 “These are the responsibilities that the descendants of Gershon are to have: 25 They are to carry the curtain of the tent, the covering of the Tent of Meeting, the dyed leather covering that goes over it, the curtain for the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, 26 the hangings for the courtyard, the curtain for the entrance to the gate of the courtyard that surrounds the tent, the altar, the ropes, all the service utensils, and everything made for them. This is to be their service area. 27 The descendants of Gershon are to carry out the instructions of Aaron and his sons. You are to assign them their responsibilities to carry out. 28 This is the work of the tribes of Gershon at the Tent of Meeting—their duties under the supervision of[o] Ithamar, the son of Aaron the priest.
Merarite Responsibilities
29 “For the descendants of Merari, number them according to their tribes and ancestral houses 30 from 30 to 50 years old as you count them, including everyone who can enter service and perform work at the Tent of Meeting. 31 This is to be their area of responsibility to carry out with respect to their service at the Tent of Meeting: the board of the tent, its bars, its crossbars, its sockets, 32 the pillars around the courtyard, their sockets, their pegs, their ropes, and all the utensils for all their services. Assign the utensils by name to each person whose responsibility it will be to carry them. 33 This is the work of the tribes of the descendants of Merari with reference to their service at the Tent of Meeting under the supervision of Aaron the priest’s son Ithamar.”
Responsibilities are Assigned
34 Moses, Aaron, and the congregational leaders numbered the descendants of Kohath according to their tribes and ancestral houses 35 from 30 to 50 years old—that is, everyone who entered the service to perform work at the Tent of Meeting. 36 The total according to their tribe numbered 2,750 37 from the tribe of the descendants of Kohath, everyone who would be serving at the Tent of Meeting, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to what the Lord had said, under the supervision of Moses.
38 The tribes and the ancestral houses of the descendants of Gershon were numbered 39 from 30 to 50 years old; that is, everyone who entered the service to perform work at the Tent of Meeting. 40 The total according to their tribes and ancestral house numbered 2,630 41 from the tribes of the descendants of Gershon, everyone who would be serving at the Tent of Meeting, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to what the Lord had said.
42 The tribes and ancestral house of Merari were numbered 43 from 30 to 50 years old; that is, everyone who entered the service to perform work at the Tent of Meeting. 44 The total according to their tribes numbered 3,200 45 from the tribes of the descendants of Merari, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to what the Lord had said, under the supervision of Moses.
46 The total of those who were numbered from the descendants of Levi by Moses and Aaron; that is, from the leaders of Israel counted according to their tribes and ancestral houses 47 from 30 to 50 years old, who entered the service for work at the Tent of Meeting 48 was 8,580. 49 They were numbered under the supervision of Moses according to what the Lord had said. Each person was assigned a responsibility to carry out, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.
Footnotes
- Numbers 4:2 Lit. Lift the head
- Numbers 4:6 Or porpoise; or fine leather
- Numbers 4:7 Or libation
- Numbers 4:8 Or porpoise; or fine leather
- Numbers 4:10 The Heb. lacks other
- Numbers 4:10 Or porpoise; or fine leather
- Numbers 4:10 Or poles for carrying stuff
- Numbers 4:11 Or porpoise; or fine leather
- Numbers 4:12 Or porpoise; or fine leather
- Numbers 4:14 Or porpoise; or fine leather
- Numbers 4:16 The Heb. lacks to maintain
- Numbers 4:19 Lit. responsibilities according to his service and to his burden
- Numbers 4:20 I.e. in preparation for travel
- Numbers 4:22 Lit. Lift the head
- Numbers 4:28 Lit. the hand of
Numbers 4
1599 Geneva Bible
4 5 The offices of the Levites, when the host removed. 6 The number of the three families of Kohath, Gershon, and Merari.
1 And the Lord spake unto Moses, and to Aaron, saying,
2 Take the sum of the sons of Kohath from among the sons of Levi, after their families, and houses of their fathers,
3 From [a]thirty years old and above, even until fifty years old all that enter into the assembly to do the work in the Tabernacle of the Congregation.
4 This shall be the office of the sons of Kohath in the Tabernacle of the Congregation about the holiest of all.
5 ¶ When the host removeth, then Aaron and his sons shall come and take down[b] the covering veil, and shall cover the Ark of the Testimony therewith.
6 And they shall put thereon a covering of badger’s skins, and shall spread upon it a cloth altogether of blue silk, and put to [c]the bars thereof:
7 And upon the (A)table of show bread, they shall spread a cloth of blue silk, and put thereon the dishes, and the incense cups and goblets, and coverings to cover it [d]with, and the bread shall be thereon continually.
8 And they shall spread upon them a covering of scarlet, and cover the same with a covering of badger’s skins, and put to the bars thereof.
9 Then they shall take a cloth of blue silk, and cover the (B)candlestick of light with his lamps, and his snuffers, (C)and his snuffdishes, and all the oil vessels thereof, which they occupy about it.
10 So they shall put it, and all the instruments thereof in a covering of badger’s skins, and put it upon the [e]bars.
11 Also upon the golden [f]altar they shall spread a cloth of blue silk, and cover it with a covering of badger’s skins, and put to the bars thereof.
12 And they shall take all the instruments of the ministry, wherewith they minister in the Sanctuary, and put them in a cloth of blue silk, and cover them with a covering of badger’s skins, and put them on the bars.
13 Also they shall take away the ashes from the [g]altar, and spread a purple cloth upon it,
14 And shall put upon it all the instruments thereof, which they occupy about it, the censers, the fleshhooks, and the besoms, and the basins, even all the instruments of the altar: and they shall spread upon it a covering of badger’s skins, and put to the bars of it.
15 And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the [h]Sanctuary, and all the instruments of the Sanctuary, at the removing of the host, afterward the sons of Kohath shall come to bear it, but they shall not [i]touch any holy thing lest they die. This is the charge of the sons of Kohath in the Tabernacle of the Congregation.
16 ¶ And to the office of Eleazar the son of Aaron the Priest pertaineth the oil for the light, and the (D)sweet incense, and the [j]daily meat offering, and the (E)anointing oil with the oversight of all the Tabernacle, and of all that therein is, both in the Sanctuary, and in all the instruments thereof.
17 ¶ And the Lord spake unto Moses and to Aaron, saying,
18 Ye shall not [k]cut off the tribe of the families of the Kohathites from among the Levites:
19 But thus do unto them that they may live and not die, when they come near to the most holy things: let Aaron and his sons come and appoint [l]them, every one to his office, and to his charge.
20 But let them not go in, to see when the Sanctuary is folden up, lest they die.
21 ¶ And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
22 Take also the sum of the sons of Gershon, every one by the houses of their fathers, throughout their families:
23 From thirty years old and above until fifty years old shalt thou number them, all that [m]enter into the assembly for to do service in the Tabernacle of the Congregation.
24 This shall be the service of the families of the Gershonites to serve and to bear.
25 They shall bear the curtains of the Tabernacle, and the Tabernacle of the Congregation, his covering, and the covering of badger’s skins, that is on high upon it, and the veil of the [n]door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation.
26 The curtains also of the court, and the veil of the entering in of the gate of the court, [o]which is near the Tabernacle and near the altar round about, with their cords: and all the instruments for their service, and all that is made for them: so shall they serve.
27 At the commandment of Aaron and his sons shall all the service of the sons of the Gershonites be done, in all their charges and in all their service, and ye shall appoint them to keep all their charges.
28 This is the service of the families of the sons of the Gershonites in the Tabernacle of the Congregation, and their watch shall be under the [p]hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the Priest.
29 ¶ Thou shalt number the sons of Merari by their families, and by the houses of their fathers.
30 From thirty years old and above, even unto fifty years old shalt thou number them, all that enter into the assembly, to do the service of the Tabernacle of the Congregation.
31 And this is their office and charge according to all their service in the Tabernacle of the Congregation: the (F)boards of the Tabernacle with the bars thereof, and his pillars, and his sockets,
32 And the pillars round about the court, with their sockets and their pins, and their cords with all their instruments, even for all their service: and by [q]name ye shall reckon the instruments of their office and charge.
33 This is the service of the families of the sons of Merari, according to all their service in the Tabernacle of the Congregation under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the Priest.
34 ¶ Then Moses and Aaron and the princes of the Congregation numbered the sons of the Kohathites, by their families and by the houses of their fathers,
35 From thirty years old and above, even unto fifty years old, all that enter into the assembly for the service of the Tabernacle of the Congregation.
36 So the [r]numbers of them throughout their families were two thousand, seven hundred and fifty.
37 These are the numbers of the families of the Kohathites, all that serve in the Tabernacle of the Congregation, which Moses and Aaron did number according to the commandment of the Lord by the [s]hand of Moses.
38 Also the numbers of the sons of Gershon throughout their families and houses of their fathers,
39 From thirty years old and upward, even unto fifty years old: all that enter into the assembly for the service of the Tabernacle of the Congregation.
40 So the numbers of them by their families, and by the houses of their fathers were two thousand six hundred and thirty.
41 These are the numbers of the families of the sons of Gershon: of all that [t]did service in the Tabernacle of the Congregation, whom Moses and Aaron did number according to the commandment of the Lord.
42 ¶ The numbers also of the families of the sons of Merari by their families, and by the houses of their fathers,
43 From thirty years old and upward, even unto fifty years old: all that enter into the assembly for the service of the Tabernacle of the Congregation.
44 So the numbers of them by their families were three thousand, and two hundred.
45 These are the sums of the families of the sons of Merari, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the commandment of the Lord, by the hand of Moses.
46 So all the numbers of the Levites, which Moses, and Aaron, and the princes of Israel numbered by their families and by the houses of their fathers,
47 From thirty years old and upward, even to fifty years old, every one that came to do [u]his duty, office, service and charge in the Tabernacle of the Congregation.
48 So the number of them were eight thousand five hundred and four score.
49 According to the [v]commandment of the Lord by the hand of Moses did Aaron number them, every one according to his service, and according to his charge. Thus were they of that tribe numbered, as the Lord commanded [w]Moses.
Footnotes
- Numbers 4:3 The Levites were numbered after three sorts, first at a month old when they were consecrated to the Lord, next at 25 years old when they were appointed to serve in the Tabernacle, and 30 years old to bear the burdens of the Tabernacle.
- Numbers 4:5 Which divided the Sanctuary from the holiest of all.
- Numbers 4:6 That is, put them upon their shoulders to carry it: for the bars of the Ark could never be removed.
- Numbers 4:7 Meaning, to cover the bread.
- Numbers 4:10 The Hebrew word signifieth an instrument made of two staves or bars.
- Numbers 4:11 Which was to burn incense, read Exod. 30:1.
- Numbers 4:13 Of the burnt offering.
- Numbers 4:15 That is, in folding up the things of the Sanctuary, as the Ark, etc.
- Numbers 4:15 Before it be covered.
- Numbers 4:16 Which was offered at morning and evening.
- Numbers 4:18 Committing by your negligence that the holy things be not well wrapped, and so they by touching thereof perish.
- Numbers 4:19 Showing what part every man shall bear.
- Numbers 4:23 Which were received into the company of them that ministered in the Tabernacle of the Congregation.
- Numbers 4:25 Which veil hanged between the Sanctuary and the court.
- Numbers 4:26 Which court compassed both the Tabernacle of the Congregation and the altar of burnt offering.
- Numbers 4:28 Under the charge and oversight.
- Numbers 4:32 Ye shall make an inventory of all the things, which ye commit to their charge.
- Numbers 4:36 Hebrew, the numbered of them.
- Numbers 4:37 God appointing Moses to be the minister and executor thereof.
- Numbers 4:41 Which were of competent age to serve therein, that is between 30 and 50.
- Numbers 4:47 Whosoever of the Levites that had any manner of charge in the Tabernacle.
- Numbers 4:49 Hebrew, according to the mouth, or word.
- Numbers 4:49 So that Moses neither added, nor diminished, from that which the Lord commanded him.
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