Num 4 | TSK | STEP | The age at which the Levites were to begin to serve, and the duration of the service. The duty of the Kohathites. The charge of Eleazar. The office of the priests. The duty of the Gershonites; of the Merarites. The number of the Kohathites; of the Gershonites and of the Merarites.

Aaron shall come.The law prohibiting any person, except the high priest on one day in the year, to enter into the most holy place, must have admitted an exception while the Israelites were in the wilderness: that exception, therefore, is here expressly made; and the directions given respecting it must be religiously observed, or the service could not be safely performed. While the cloud rested on the tabernacle, the general rule was in force; but when it was removed, then the priests might enter to prepare the sacred vessels for removal.

15; 3:27-32

they shall.

Ex 26:31-33; 36:35; 40:3; Isa 25:7; Mt 27:51; Heb 9:3; 10:20

and cover.

Ex 25:10-22; 37:1-9; 2Sa 6:2-9

badgers' skins.This was not the covering of badgers' skins made for the tabernacle, which was carried by the Gershonites, (ver. 24, 25,) but one made for the purpose of concealing and sheltering the ark when it was to be carried.

a cloth.

7,8,11-13; Ex 35:19; 39:1,41

and shall put.{Wesamoo baddaiv,} rather, "and adjust the staves thereof;" i.e., dispose them rightly under the covering, that they might be laid on their shoulders: for the staves were never taken out of the rings.

the staves.

Ex 25:13-15; 1Ki 8:7,8

the table.

Ex 25:23-30; 37:10-16; Le 24:5-8

cover withal. or, pour out withal. the continual.The Israelites, without doubt, were able to procure corn enough from the adjacent countries, even when in the wilderness, to make the shewbread, and to present the daily meat offerings.

6,7,9,11-13

Ex 25:31-39; 37:17-24; Ps 119:105; Re 1:20; 2:1

6,12

Ex 30:1-19; 37:25-28; 39:38; 40:5,26,27

7,9; 3:8; Ex 25:9; 31:10; 2Ki 25:14,15; 1Ch 9:29; 2Ch 4:11,16,19,22 The embers of the sacred fire seem to have been removed in the grate, which was carried apart from the brazen altar; both being covered from view by purple cloths.

6-9,11,12; Ex 27:3-5; 39:1,41; Le 6:12,13

all the vessels thereof.

Ex 38:1-7; 2Ch 4:19

basons. or, bowls.

after that.

7:9; 10:21; De 31:9; Jos 4:10; 2Sa 6:13; 1Ch 15:2,15

they shall.

3:38; Ex 19:12; 1Sa 6:19; 2Sa 6:6,7; 1Ch 13:9,10; Heb 12:18-29

These things.

3:30,31

the office.Eleazar himself, perhaps with the other priests, was required to carry the oil for the light, the incense, and the flour for the daily meat offering, and the holy ointment; besides superintending the Levites. It may be supposed, that he himself carried no more of the oil than for present use. (see ver. 9.)

3:32

the oil.

Ex 25:6; 27:20,21; Le 24:2

the sweet.

Ex 30:34-38; 37:29

the daily.

Ex 29:39-41

the anointing.

Ex 30:23-33

the oversight.

Lu 4:18; Ac 20:28; 1Co 4:1; 1Ti 2:5; Heb 3:1,6; 1Pe 2:25; 5:2

17 Eleazar and the priests would be chargeable with the death of the Kohathites, if they failed to give them proper cautions and directions; or permitted them to gaze with irreverence or curiosity upon the holy things, which they might carry, but not see. (ver. 20.)

16:32; 17:10; 18:5; Ex 19:21; Le 10:1,2; 1Sa 6:19; 2Sa 6:6,7

Jer 38:23

the most holy.

they shall.

15,19; Ex 19:21; Le 10:2; 1Sa 6:19; Heb 10:19,20; Re 11:19

the holy things.{Hakkodesh,} "the holy," or "sanctuary," i.e., the ark, as the Jews generally understand it; and with good reason, as any one may be convinced, who compares 1 Ki 8:8 with 2 Ch 5:9, where that which is called the holy in the former, is called the ark in the latter.

3:18,21,24

thirty years.

to perform the service. Heb. to war the warfare.

3; Isa 63:1-4; Ro 7:14-24; 1Co 9:7; 2Co 6:7; 10:3-5; Eph 6:10-19

Ga 5:17,24; 1Ti 1:18; 2Ti 2:3,4; 4:7

burdens. or, carriage.

the curtains.

the covering.

the hangings.

and their cords.

appointment. Heb. mouth.The Levites were under the command of the priests. Eleazar exercised this authority in general, as next in succession to Aaron: and he in particular was placed over the Kohathites; while Ithamar, his younger brother, commanded the Gershonites and Merarites. (ver. 33.)

Lu 1:70; 1Co 11:2

33; 1Co 12:5,6

3:33-35

service. Heb. warfare.

3,23; Ps 110:1-7; 1Ti 6:11,12; 2Ti 2:4; 4:7,8

the charge.

3:36,37; 7:8,9

the boards.

Ex 26:15

and by name.An inventory was taken of every particular, even to the very pins belonging to each part, that nothing might be wanting when the tabernacle was set up.

the instruments.

3:8; 7:1; Ex 25:9; 38:17,21; 1Ch 9:29

under the hand.

28; Jos 3:6; Isa 3:6

3,23,30,39,43,47; 8:24-26; 1Ch 23:3,24,26,27; 28:13

Lu 3:23; 1Ti 3:6 In the third chapter we have an account of the whole number of the Levites; and here of those only who were able to serve the Lord in the sanctuary. By comparing the two places, we find the number of the effective and ineffective males to stand thus:-- Kohathites. Effective men . . . . . . . 2,750 Ineffective . . . . . . . . 5,850 ----- Total 8,600 Gershonites. Effective men . . . . . . . 2,630 Ineffective . . . . . . . . 4,870 ----- Total 7,500 Merarites. Effective men . . . . . . . 3,200 Ineffective . . . . . . . . 3,000 ----- Total 6,200 Thus we find that the whole number of the Levites amounted to 22,300; of whom 8,580 were fit for service and 13,720 unfit, being either too old or too young. What an astonishing number of men, all performing some service by which God was glorified, and the congregation at large benefited!

3:32

43 The family of Merari, though smaller than either of the other families of Levi, yet had a greater number of able men than any of them; for out of 6,200 males of a month old and upwards, we find 3,200 who were neither too young nor too old for the service of the sanctuary; which was more than one-half of their whole number. In this the wisdom and providence of God appear most conspicuously; for the Merarites were charged with the heaviest part of the sanctuary, as the boards, bars, sockets, etc; and though waggons were afterwards provided for them, yet the loading and unloading of the sockets, and other things of great weight, would require much strength, both bodily and numerical. (Compare ver. 36, 40, with ch. 3:22, 28, 24.) Thus God ever manifests his wisdom, in fitting men for the work to which they are appointed, whether with respect to number or gifts: "For to one is given, by the Spirit, the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge, by the same Spirit; to another faith, by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing, by the same Spirit; to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: but all these worketh that one and the self-same Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will."

3:34; De 33:25; 1Co 10:13; 12:8-12; 2Co 12:9,10

From thirty.

3,23,30; 1Ch 23:3,27

every one.

15,24,37; Ro 12:6-8; 1Co 12:4-31

3:39; Mt 7:14; 20:16; 22:15

According to the.

37,41,45; 1:54; 2:33; 3:51

every one.

15,24,31; Isa 11:2-4; 42:1-7; 49:1-8; Ro 12:4-8

as the Lord.

1,21