4:3 From a thirty years old and upward even until fifty years
old, all that enter into the host, to do the work in the
tabernacle of the congregation.
(a) The Levites were counted at three times, 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.
4:5 And when the camp setteth forward, Aaron shall come, and his
sons, and they shall take down the b covering vail, and
cover the ark of testimony with it:
(b) Which divided the sanctuary from the holiest of holies.
4:6 And shall put thereon the covering of badgers' skins, and
shall spread over [it] a cloth wholly of blue, and shall put
in c the staves thereof.
(c) That is, put them on their shoulders to carry it: for
the bars of the ark could never be removed.
4:7 And upon the table of shewbread they shall spread a cloth of
blue, and put thereon the dishes, and the spoons, and the
bowls, and covers to cover d withal: and the continual
bread shall be thereon:
(d) Meaning, to cover the bread.
4:10 And they shall put it and all the vessels thereof within a
covering of badgers' skins, and shall put [it] upon a e
bar.
(e) The Hebrew word signifies an instrument made of two
staves or bars.
4:11 And upon the golden f altar they shall spread a cloth of
blue, and cover it with a covering of badgers' skins, and
shall put to the staves thereof:
4:13 And they shall take away the ashes from the g altar, and
spread a purple cloth thereon:
(g) Of the burnt offering.
4:15 And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering
the h sanctuary, and all the vessels of the sanctuary, as
the camp is to set forward; after that, the sons of Kohath
shall come to bear [it]: but they shall not i touch [any]
holy thing, lest they die. These [things are] the burden of
the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation.
(h) That is, in folding up the things of the sanctuary, as
the ark, etc.
(i) Before it is covered.
4:16 And to the office of Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest
[pertaineth] the oil for the light, and the sweet incense,
and the k daily meat offering, and the anointing oil,
[and] the oversight of all the tabernacle, and of all that
therein [is], in the sanctuary, and in the vessels thereof.
(k) Which was offered at morning and evening.
4:18l Cut ye not off the tribe of the families of the
Kohathites from among the Levites:
(l) Committing by your negligence that the holy things are
not well wrapped, causing them to perish by touching
it.
4:19 But thus do unto them, that they may live, and not die,
when they approach unto the most holy things: Aaron and his
sons shall go in, and appoint m them every one to his
service and to his burden:
(m) Showing what part every man shall bear.
4:23 From thirty years old and upward until fifty years old
shalt thou number them; all that n enter in to perform
the service, to do the work in the tabernacle of the
congregation.
(n) Which were received into the company of those who
ministered in the tabernacle of the congregation.
4:25 And they shall bear the curtains of the tabernacle, and the
tabernacle of the congregation, his covering, and the
covering of the badgers' skins that [is] above upon it, and
the hanging for the o door of the tabernacle of the
congregation,
(o) Which hung between the sanctuary and the court.
4:26 And the hangings of the court, and the hanging for the door
of the gate of the court, p which [is] by the tabernacle
and by the altar round about, and their cords, and all the
instruments of their service, and all that is made for
them: so shall they serve.
(p) Which compassed both the tabernacle of the congregation
and the altar of burnt offering.
4:28 This [is] the service of the families of the sons of
Gershon in the tabernacle of the congregation: and their
charge [shall be] under the q hand of Ithamar the son of
Aaron the priest.
(q) Under the charge and oversight.
4:32 And the pillars of the court round about, and their
sockets, and their pins, and their cords, with all their
instruments, and with all their service: and by r name ye
shall reckon the instruments of the charge of their burden.
(r) You shall take inventory of all the things, which you
commit to their charge.
4:37 These [were] they that were numbered of the families of the
Kohathites, all that might do service 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.
(s) God appointing Moses to be the minister and executor of
it.
4:41 These [are] they that were numbered of the families of the
sons of Gershon, of all that t might do service in the
tabernacle of the congregation, whom Moses and Aaron did
number according to the commandment of the LORD.
(t) Which were of eligible age to serve in it, that is
between 30 and 50.
4:47 From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old,
every one that came to do u the service of the ministry,
and the service of the burden in the tabernacle of the
congregation,
(u) Whoever of the Levites that had any charge in the
tabernacle.
4:49 According to the commandment of the LORD they were numbered
by the hand of Moses, every one according to his service,
and according to his burden: thus were they numbered of
him, as the LORD commanded x Moses.
(x) So that Moses neither added, nor diminished from that
which the Lord commanded him.
