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A command to number the Levites from thirty to fifty years old,
ver. 1 - 3.
The charge of the Kohathites, ver. 4 - 20.
Of the Gershonites, ver. 21 - 28.
Of the Merarites, ver. 29 - 33.
The number of each, ver. 34 - 45.
Of all in general, ver. 46 - 49.
3: From thirty - This age was prescribed, as the age of full strength
of body, and therefore most proper for their laborious work of carrying the
parts and vessels of the tabernacle, and of maturity of judgment, which is
necessary for the right management of holy services. Whence even John
and Christ entered not upon their ministry till that age. Indeed their
first entrance upon their work was at their 25th year, when they began as
learners, and acted under the inspection and direction of their brethren;
but in their 30th year they were compleatly admitted to a full discharge
of their whole office. But David, being a prophet, and particularly
directed by God in the affairs of the temple, made a change in this matter,
because the magnificence of the temple, and the great multitude of sacred
utensils and sacrifices, required a greater number of attendants than
formerly was necessary. Until fifty - When they were exempted from the
toilsome work of carrying burdens, but not discharged from the honourable
and easy work done within the tabernacle, (Nu 8:26).
All that enter - That is, that do and may enter, having no defect, nor
other impediment.
5: They shall take down - For upon this necessary occasion the
inferior priests are allowed to come into the holy of holies, which
otherwise was peculiar to the high - priest. The covering veil - The second
veil, wherewith the ark was covered while the tabernacle stood,(Ex 40:3).
Cover the ark - Because the Levites, who were to carry the ark, might
neither see, nor immediately touch it.
6: Badgers - skins - Whereby the ark was secured from the injuries of
the weather.
7: The dishes - Upon which the shew - bread was put. Continual
bread - So called because it was continually to be there, even in the
wilderness; where though they had only manna for themselves, yet they
reserved corn for the weekly making of these loaves, which they might with
no great difficulty procure from some of the people bordering upon the
wilderness.
11: The golden altar - All covered with plates of gold.
12: The instruments of ministry - The sacred garments used by the
priests in their holy ministrations. Cover them - All these coverings
were designed,
- For safety, that these holy things might not be filled by rain, or
tarnished by the sun.
- For decency, most of them had a cloth of blue, or purple, or scarlet over
them; the ark, a cloth wholly of blue, perhaps an emblem of the azure skies,
which are spread between us and the Majesty on high;
- For concealment. It was a fit sign of the darkness of that dispensation.
The holy things were then covered. But Christ hath now destroyed the
face of the covering.
13: The altar - Hence we may conclude, that they did offer sacrifices
at other times, though not so constantly and diligently, as they did in
Canaan. Moreover the taking away of the ashes only doth sufficiently
imply that the fire was preserved, which as it came down from heaven,(Le 9:24). So it was by God's command to be continually fed, and kept
burning, and therefore doubtless was put into some vessel, which might be
either fastened to the altar and put within this covering, or carried by
some person appointed thereunto.
15: Bear it - Upon their shoulders. Afterward the priests themselves,
being multiplied, carried these things, though the Levites also were not
excluded. They shall not touch - Before they are covered.
16: Eleazar - He himself is to carry these things, and not to
commit them to the sons of Kohath. The oversight - The care that
all the things above mentioned be carried by the persons and in the manner
expressed.
18: Cut not off - Do not by your neglect provoke God to cut them off
for touching the holy things.
19: To his service - To that which is peculiarly allotted to him,
the services, and burdens being equally distributed among them.
25: The curtains - The curtains or covering of goats - hair. The
tabernacle - The ten curtains which covered the boards of the tabernacle;
for the boards themselves were carried by the Merarites. His
covering - The covering of rams - skins which was put next over those ten
curtains.
26: Which is round about - Which court compassed both the tabernacle
and the altar.
28: Under the hand - Under his conduct and direction.
31: The sockets - Which were as the feet upon which the pillars stood.
32: Ye shall reckon - Every part and parcel shall be put in an
inventory; which is required here rather than in the fore - going particulars;
because these were much more numerous than the former; because being meaner
things, they might otherwise have been neglected; and also to teach us, that
God esteems nothing small in his service, and that he expects his will
should be observed in the minutest circumstances. The death of the saints
is represented us the taking down of the tabernacle. The immortal soul,
like the most holy things, is first covered and taken away, carried by
angels unseen, and care is taken also of the body, the skin and flesh,
which are as the curtains, the bones and sinews, which are as the
bars and pillars. None of these shall be lost. Commandment is
given concerning the bones, a covenant made with the dust. They are in safe
custody, and shall be produced in the great day, when this tabernacle shall
be set up again, and these vile bodies made like the glorious body of
Jesus Christ.
44: Three thousand - Here appears the wisdom of Divine Providence,
that whereas in the Kohathites and Gershonites, whose burdens were
fewer and easier, there were but about a third part of them fit for service;
the Merarites, whose burdens were more and heavier, had above half of
them fit for this work.
