The Fourth Book of Moses: Numbers

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- Chapter 4 -

(Numbers 3:27–32; 1 Chronicles 23:12–20)

And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying:

“Take a total of the sons of Kohath from the midst of the Levites, by their houses and families,

from thirty years and above, even to the fiftieth year, of all who enter so as to stand and minister in the tabernacle of the covenant.

This is the service of the sons of Kohath: the tabernacle of the covenant and the Holy of holies.

Aaron and his sons shall enter, when the camp is going to move, and they shall take down the veil, which hangs before the entrance, and they shall wrap the ark of the testimony in it,

and they shall cover it further with a veil of violet skins, and they shall extend over it a cloth made entirely of hyacinth, and they shall draw in the bars.(a)

Likewise, they shall wrap the table of the presence in a cloth of hyacinth, and they shall place with it the censers and little mortars, the cups and bowls for pouring out libations; the bread shall be always on it.

And they shall extend over it a cloth of scarlet, which they shall further cover with a veil of violet skins, and they shall draw in the bars.

They shall take also a cloth of hyacinth, with which they shall cover the lampstand with the lamps, and its tongs, and the candle snuffers, and all the vessels of oil, which are necessary for the preparation of the lamps.

And over all this they shall place a covering of violet skins, and they shall draw in the bars.

And certainly they shall wrap the golden altar in a hyacinth garment, and they shall extend over it a covering of violet skins, and they shall draw in the bars.

All the vessels with which they minister in the Sanctuary they shall wrap in a cloth of hyacinth, and they shall extend over it a covering of violet skins, and they shall draw in the bars.

Moreover, they shall cleanse the altar of ashes, and they shall wrap it in a purple garment,

and they shall place it with all the vessels which they use in its ministry, that is, receptacles for fire, small hooks as well as forks, larger hooks and shovels. They shall cover all the vessels of the altar together with a veil of violet skins, and they shall draw in the bars.

And when Aaron and his sons have wrapped the Sanctuary and its vessels at the dismantling of the camp, then the sons of Kohath shall enter, so as to carry what has been wrapped. And they shall not touch the vessels of the Sanctuary, lest they die. These are the burdens of the sons of Kohath concerning the tabernacle of the covenant.

Over them shall be Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, to whom belongs the care of the oil to prepare the lamps, and the incense compound, and the sacrifice, which is offered continually, and the oil of unction, and whatever pertains to the service of the tabernacle, and all the vessels that are in the Sanctuary.”

And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying:

“Do not be willing to lose the people of Kohath from the midst of the Levites.

But do this for them, so that they may live, and so that they may not die by touching the Holies of holies. Aaron and his sons shall enter, and they shall assign the work of each one, and they shall determine what each one ought to carry.

Let no others, out of curiosity, see the things that are in the Sanctuary before they are wrapped, otherwise they shall die.”

The Duties of the Gershonites

(Numbers 3:21–26; 1 Chronicles 23:7–11)

And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:

“Now also take a total of the sons of Gershon, by their houses and families and kinships,

from thirty years and above, even to fifty years. Number all those who enter and minister in the tabernacle of the covenant.

This is the duty of the family of the Gershonites:

to carry the curtains of the tabernacle, and the roof of the covenant, the other covering, and the veil over everything, and the violet tent, which hangs at the entrance of the tabernacle of the covenant,

the curtains of the atrium, and the veil at the entrance, which is before tabernacle. Everything that pertains to the altar, the cords, and the vessels of the ministry

the sons of Gershon shall carry, under the orders of Aaron and his sons. And so shall each one know to which burden he ought to surrender.

This is the service of the family of the Gershonites, in the tabernacle of the covenant, and they shall be under the hand of Ithamar, the son of Aaron the priest.

The Duties of the Merarites

(Numbers 3:33–37; 1 Chronicles 23:21–23)

Likewise, you shall take a census of the sons of Merari, by the families and houses of their fathers,

from thirty years and above, even to fifty years, of all who enter to the office of their ministry and to the service of the covenant of the testimony.

These are their burdens: They shall carry the panels of the tabernacle and its bars, the columns and their bases,

also the columns surrounding the atrium, with their bases and tent pegs and cords. They shall accept by number all the vessels and articles, and so shall they carry them.

This is the office of the family of the Merarites, and their ministry for the tabernacle of the covenant. And they shall be under the hand of Ithamar, the son of Aaron the priest.”

The Numbering of the Levite Clans

Therefore, Moses and Aaron, and the leaders of the assembly, took a census of the sons of Kohath, by the kinships and houses of their fathers,

from thirty years and above, even to the fiftieth year, of all who enter to the ministry of the tabernacle of the covenant.

And there were found two thousand seven hundred fifty.

This is the number of the people of Kohath, who enter the tabernacle of the covenant. These Moses and Aaron numbered according to the word of the Lord by the hand of Moses.

The sons of Gershon also were numbered by the kinships and houses of their fathers,

from thirty years and above, even to the fiftieth year, all who enter so as to minister in the tabernacle of the covenant.

And there were found two thousand six hundred thirty.

This is the people of the Gershonites, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the word of the Lord.

The sons of Merari also were numbered by the kinships and houses of their fathers,

from thirty years and above, even to the fiftieth year, all who enter to fulfill the rituals of the tabernacle of the covenant.

And there were found three thousand two hundred.

This is the number of the sons of Merari, whom Moses and Aaron counted according to the command of the Lord by the hand of Moses.

All who were counted from the Levites, and whom, by name, Moses and Aaron, and the leaders of Israel, counted by the kinships and houses of their fathers,

from thirty years and above, until the fiftieth year, entering for the ministry of the tabernacle and carrying the burdens,

were together eight thousand five hundred eighty.

Moses took a census of them, according to the word of the Lord, each one according to their office and their burdens, just as the Lord had instructed him.

Footnotes

(a)4:6 The word ‘ianthinarum’ certainly signifies a different color than ‘hyacinthinum.’ The former also appears to be the natural color of the skins (type of skins is unknown), whereas the hyacinth color was most likely derived from the flower so as to dye a cloth (perhaps silk).(Conte)

(Numbers 3:27–32; 1 Chronicles 23:12–20)

The LORD spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying,

“Take a census of the sons of Kohath from among the sons of Levi, by their families, by their fathers’ houses,

from thirty years old and upward even until fifty years old, all who enter into the service to do the work in the Tent of Meeting.

“This is the service of the sons of Kohath in the Tent of Meeting, regarding the most holy things.

When the camp moves forward, Aaron shall go in with his sons; and they shall take down the veil of the screen, cover the ark of the Testimony with it,

put a covering of sealskin on it, spread a blue cloth over it, and put in its poles.

“On the table of show bread they shall spread a blue cloth, and put on it the dishes, the spoons, the bowls, and the cups with which to pour out; and the continual bread shall be on it.

They shall spread on them a scarlet cloth, and cover it with a covering of sealskin, and shall put in its poles.

“They shall take a blue cloth and cover the lamp stand of the light, its lamps, its snuffers, its snuff dishes, and all its oil vessels, with which they minister to it.

They shall put it and all its vessels within a covering of sealskin, and shall put it on the frame.

“On the golden altar they shall spread a blue cloth, and cover it with a covering of sealskin, and shall put in its poles.

“They shall take all the vessels of ministry with which they minister in the sanctuary, and put them in a blue cloth, cover them with a covering of sealskin, and shall put them on the frame.

“They shall take away the ashes from the altar, and spread a purple cloth on it.

They shall put on it all its vessels with which they minister about it, the fire pans, the meat hooks, the shovels, and the basins—all the vessels of the altar; and they shall spread on it a covering of sealskin, and put in its poles.

“When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the sanctuary and all the furniture of the sanctuary, as the camp moves forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to carry it; but they shall not touch the sanctuary, lest they die. The sons of Kohath shall carry these things belonging to the Tent of Meeting.

“The duty of Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest shall be the oil for the light, the sweet incense, the continual meal offering, and the anointing oil, the requirements of all the tabernacle, and of all that is in it, the sanctuary, and its furnishings.”

The LORD spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying,

“Don’t cut off the tribe of the families of the Kohathites from among the Levites;

but do this to them, that they may live, and not die, when they approach the most holy things: Aaron and his sons shall go in and appoint everyone to his service and to his burden;

but they shall not go in to see the sanctuary even for a moment, lest they die.”

The Duties of the Gershonites

(Numbers 3:21–26; 1 Chronicles 23:7–11)

The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

“Take a census of the sons of Gershon also, by their fathers’ houses, by their families;

you shall count them from thirty years old and upward until fifty years old: all who enter in to wait on the service, to do the work in the Tent of Meeting.

“This is the service of the families of the Gershonites, in serving and in bearing burdens:

they shall carry the curtains of the tabernacle and the Tent of Meeting, its covering, the covering of sealskin that is on it, the screen for the door of the Tent of Meeting,

the hangings of the court, the screen for the door of the gate of the court which is by the tabernacle and around the altar, their cords, and all the instruments of their service, and whatever shall be done with them. They shall serve in there.

At the commandment of Aaron and his sons shall be all the service of the sons of the Gershonites, in all their burden and in all their service; and you shall appoint their duty to them in all their responsibilities.

This is the service of the families of the sons of the Gershonites in the Tent of Meeting. Their duty shall be under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.

The Duties of the Merarites

(Numbers 3:33–37; 1 Chronicles 23:21–23)

“As for the sons of Merari, you shall count them by their families, by their fathers’ houses;

you shall count them from thirty years old and upward even to fifty years old—everyone who enters on the service, to do the work of the Tent of Meeting.

This is the duty of their burden, according to all their service in the Tent of Meeting: the tabernacle’s boards, its bars, its pillars, its sockets,

the pillars of the court around it, their sockets, their pins, their cords, with all their instruments, and with all their service. You shall appoint the instruments of the duty of their burden to them by name.

This is the service of the families of the sons of Merari, according to all their service in the Tent of Meeting, under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.”

The Numbering of the Levite Clans

Moses and Aaron and the princes of the congregation counted the sons of the Kohathites by their families, and by their fathers’ houses,

from thirty years old and upward even to fifty years old, everyone who entered into the service for work in the Tent of Meeting.

Those who were counted of them by their families were two thousand seven hundred fifty.

These are those who were counted of the families of the Kohathites, all who served in the Tent of Meeting, whom Moses and Aaron counted according to the commandment of the LORD by Moses.

Those who were counted of the sons of Gershon, by their families, and by their fathers’ houses,

from thirty years old and upward even to fifty years old—everyone who entered into the service for work in the Tent of Meeting,

even those who were counted of them, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, were two thousand six hundred thirty.

These are those who were counted of the families of the sons of Gershon, all who served in the Tent of Meeting, whom Moses and Aaron counted according to the commandment of the LORD.

Those who were counted of the families of the sons of Merari, by their families, by their fathers’ houses,

from thirty years old and upward even to fifty years old—everyone who entered into the service for work in the Tent of Meeting,

even those who were counted of them by their families, were three thousand two hundred.

These are those who were counted of the families of the sons of Merari, whom Moses and Aaron counted according to the commandment of the LORD by Moses.

All those who were counted of the Levites whom Moses and Aaron and the princes of Israel counted, by their families and by their fathers’ houses,

from thirty years old and upward even to fifty years old, everyone who entered in to do the work of service and the work of bearing burdens in the Tent of Meeting,

even those who were counted of them, were eight thousand five hundred eighty.

According to the commandment of the LORD they were counted by Moses, everyone according to his service and according to his burden. Thus they were counted by him, as the LORD commanded Moses.