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Numbers 4:1-49 open_in_new
The Duties of the Levites on the March
2. Kohath seems to have been the second son of Levi (Numbers 3:17), but his family is mentioned first, because Moses and Aaron belonged to it (Numbers 3:19 cp. Exodus 6:18; Exodus 6:20), and because it had charge of the most sacred furniture, the ark, etc.
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Numbers 4:3 open_in_new
From thirty years old] In Numbers 8:24 we read that the time of service was from the age of twenty-five. And in 2 Chronicles 31:17; Ezra 3:8 it is from the age of twenty: cp. 1 Chronicles 23:3; 1 Chronicles 23:24-27. The practice seems to have varied at different times.
4-20. The Kohathites carry the ark and the sacred vessels of the tabernacle.
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Numbers 4:5 open_in_new
The covering veil is the curtain which screened off the Holy of Holies: see Exodus 26:33.
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Numbers 4:7 open_in_new
The continual bread] i.e. the shewbread: see on Leviticus 24:5-9.
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Numbers 4:11 open_in_new
The golden altar] i.e. the altar of incense. In Leviticus 24:13 the altar is the altar of burnt offering (see on Exodus 30:1-10).
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Numbers 4:15 open_in_new
Lest they die] cp. 2 Samuel 6:6; 2 Samuel 6:7.
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Numbers 4:18 open_in_new
Cut not off] see that you do not expose them to any risk of death by touching the most holy things: cp. Romans 14:15.
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Numbers 4:20 open_in_new
They shall not go in] i.e. the Kohathites.
21-28. The Gershonites take charge of the curtains of the tabernacle and the court. As these were of great weight two ox-wagons were employed in their transport: see Numbers 7:7.
29-33. The Merarites take charge of the framework of the tabernacle and employ four ox-wagons: see Numbers 7:8.
34-49. The numbers given here are those of the Levites on active service, between thirty and fifty years of age. The total number of the tribe was given in Numbers 3:39.