Numbers 4

The Duties of the Kohathites

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

1 Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, 2 “Take a census of the Kohathites among the Levites by their clans and families, ‡ Num 3:19Num 3:27 3 men from thirty to fifty years old—everyone who is qualified to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting. ‡ Num 4:231Ch 23:24-321Ch 23:3-52Ki 11:4-12Eph 6:10-18Luk 3:23Num 8:24-261Ch 28:12-13 +12

4 This service of the Kohathites at the Tent of Meeting regards the most holy things. ‡ Num 4:19Mrk 13:34Num 3:30-31Num 4:15Num 4:24Num 4:30 5 Whenever the camp sets out, Aaron and his sons are to go in, take down the veil of the curtain, and cover the ark of the Testimony ¹with it. ‡ Heb 9:3Mat 27:512Sa 6:2-9Exo 25:10-22Exo 26:31-33Exo 36:35Exo 37:1-9Exo 40:3 +66 They are to place over this a covering of fine leather, ² spread a solid blue cloth over it, and insert its poles. ‡ Exo 25:13-151Ki 8:7-8Exo 35:19Exo 39:1Exo 39:41Num 4:11-13Num 4:7-8

7 Over the table of the Presence they are to spread a blue cloth and place the plates and cups on it, along with the bowls and pitchers for the drink offering. The regular bread offering is to remain on it. ‡ Lev 24:5-8Exo 25:23-30Exo 37:10-16 8 And they shall spread a scarlet cloth over them, cover them with fine leather, and insert the poles. ‡ Num 4:11-13Num 4:6-7Num 4:9

9 They are to take a blue cloth and cover the lampstand used for light, together with its lamps, wick trimmers, and trays, as well as the jars of oil with which to supply it. ‡ Exo 25:31-39Exo 37:17-24Psa 119:105Rev 1:20 10 Then they shall wrap it and all its utensils inside a covering of fine leather and put it on the carrying frame. ‡ Num 4:12Num 4:6

11 Over the gold altar they are to spread a blue cloth, cover it with fine leather, and insert the poles. ‡ Exo 30:1-19Exo 37:25-28Exo 39:38Exo 40:26-27Exo 40:5 12 They are to take all the utensils for serving in the sanctuary, place them in a blue cloth, cover them with fine leather, and put them on the carrying frame. ‡ 1Ch 9:292Ch 4:112Ch 4:162Ch 4:192Ch 4:222Ki 25:14-15Exo 25:9Exo 31:10 +3

13 Then they shall remove the ashes from the bronze altar, spread a purple cloth over it, ‡ Lev 6:12-13Exo 27:1-8Exo 39:1Exo 39:41Num 4:11-12Num 4:6-9 14 and place on it all the vessels used to serve there: the firepans, meat forks, shovels, and sprinkling bowls—all the equipment of the altar. They are to spread over it a covering of fine leather and insert the poles. ‡ Exo 38:1-72Ch 4:19

15 When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy objects and all their equipment, as soon as the camp is ready to move, the Kohathites shall come and do the carrying. But they must not touch the holy objects, or they will die. These are the transportation duties of the Kohathites regarding the Tent of Meeting. ‡ 2Sa 6:6-7Num 7:9Deu 31:91Ch 13:9-10Num 10:211Ch 15:21Sa 6:191Ch 15:15 +7

16 Eleazar son of Aaron the priest shall oversee the oil for the light, the fragrant incense, the daily grain offering, and the anointing oil. He has oversight of the entire tabernacle and everything in it, including the holy objects and their utensils.” ‡ Exo 25:6Lev 24:21Pe 2:25Exo 30:23-381Co 4:11Pe 5:21Ti 2:5Act 20:28 +9

17 Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, 18 “Do not allow the Kohathite tribal clans to be cut off from among the Levites. ‡ 1Sa 6:192Sa 6:6-7Exo 19:21Jer 38:23Lev 10:1-2Num 16:32Num 17:10Num 18:5 19 In order that they may live and not die when they come near the most holy things, do this for them: Aaron and his sons are to go in and assign each man his task and what he is to carry. ‡ Num 4:15 20 But the Kohathites are not to go in and look at the holy objects, even for a moment, or they will die.” ‡ 1Sa 6:19Exo 19:21Lev 10:2Num 4:15Num 4:19Heb 10:19-20Rev 11:19

The Duties of the Gershonites

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

21 And the LORD said to Moses, 22 “Take a census of the Gershonites as well, by their families and clans, ‡ Num 3:18Num 3:21Num 3:24 23 from thirty to fifty years old, counting everyone who comes to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting. ‡ Num 4:31Ch 23:241Ch 23:271Ch 23:31Co 9:71Ti 1:182Co 10:3-52Co 6:7 +7

24 This is the service of the Gershonite clans regarding work and transport: ‡ Num 4:15Num 4:19Num 4:27Num 4:31-32Num 4:47Num 4:49 25 They are to carry the curtains of the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting with the covering of fine leather over it, the curtains for the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, ‡ Exo 26:14Num 3:25-26Num 7:5-7 26 the curtains of the courtyard, and the curtains for the entrance at the gate of the courtyard that surrounds the tabernacle and altar, along with their ropes and all the equipment for their service. The Gershonites will do all that needs to be done with these items. ‡ Exo 27:9Exo 35:18

27 All the service of the Gershonites—all their transport duties and other work—is to be done at the direction of Aaron and his sons; you are to assign to them all that they are responsible to carry. ‡ 1Co 11:2Luk 1:70 28 This is the service of the Gershonite clans at the Tent of Meeting, and their duties shall be under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest. ‡ Num 4:331Co 12:5-6

The Duties of the Merarites

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

29 As for the sons of Merari, you are to number them by their clans and families, ‡ Num 3:33-35 30 from thirty to fifty years old, counting everyone who comes to serve in the work of the Tent of Meeting. ‡ Num 4:23Num 4:31Ti 6:11-122Ti 2:42Ti 4:7-8Psa 110:1-7

31 This is the duty for all their service at the Tent of Meeting: to carry the frames of the tabernacle with its crossbars, posts, and bases, ‡ Num 3:36-37Exo 26:15Num 7:8-9 32 and the posts of the surrounding courtyard with their bases, tent pegs, and ropes, including all their equipment and everything related to their use. You shall assign by name the items that they are responsible to carry. ‡ Exo 38:211Ch 9:29Exo 25:9Exo 38:17Num 3:8Num 7:1

33 This is the service of the Merarite clans according to all their work at the Tent of Meeting, under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.” ‡ Num 4:28Isa 3:6Jos 3:6

The Numbering of the Levite Clans

34 So Moses, Aaron, and the leaders of the congregation numbered the Kohathites by their clans and families, 35 everyone from thirty to fifty years old who came to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting. ‡ 1Ch 23:24Num 4:231Ch 23:26-271Ch 23:31Ch 28:131Ti 3:6Luk 3:23Num 4:3 +536 And those numbered by their clans totaled 2,750. 37 These were counted from the Kohathite clans, everyone who could serve at the Tent of Meeting. Moses and Aaron numbered them according to the command of the LORD through Moses.

38 Then the Gershonites were numbered by their clans and families, 39 everyone from thirty to fifty years old who came to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting. 40 And those numbered by their clans and families totaled 2,630. ‡ Num 3:32 41 These were counted from the Gershonite clans who served at the Tent of Meeting, whom Moses and Aaron counted at the LORD’s command.

42 And the Merarites were numbered by their clans and families, 43 everyone from thirty to fifty years old who came to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting. 44 The men registered by their clans numbered 3,200. ‡ 1Co 10:131Co 12:8-122Co 12:9-10Deu 33:25Num 3:34 45 These were counted from the Merarite clans, whom Moses and Aaron numbered at the LORD’s command through Moses. ‡ Num 4:29

46 So Moses, Aaron, and the leaders of Israel numbered by their clans and families all the Levites 47 from thirty to fifty years old who came to do the work of serving and carrying the Tent of Meeting. ‡ 1Co 12:4-31Rom 12:6-8Num 4:31Ch 23:271Ch 23:3Num 4:15Num 4:23-24Num 4:30 +148 And the number of men was 8,580. ‡ Num 3:39Mat 20:16Mat 22:15Mat 7:14 49 At the LORD’s command they were numbered through Moses and each one was assigned his work and burden, as the LORD had commanded Moses. ‡ Num 1:54Num 4:15Num 4:21Num 4:24Num 4:31Isa 11:2-4Isa 42:1-7Isa 49:1-8 +7