_A.M. 2514. B.C. 1490._ A command to number the Levites from thirty to fifty years old, Numbers 4:1. The charge of the Kohathites, Numbers 4:4. Of the Gershonites, Numbers 4:21. Of the Merarites, Numbers 4:29. The number of each, Numbers 4:34. Of all in general, Numbers 4:46.... [ Continue Reading ]
_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 e... [ Continue Reading ]
_They shall take down_ For upon this necessary occasion the inferior priests were 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, Exodus 40:3. _Cover the ark_ Beca... [ Continue Reading ]
_The dishes_ Upon which the show-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.... [ Continue Reading ]
_The golden altar_ All covered with plates of gold. _The instruments of ministry_ The sacred garments used by the priests in their holy ministrations. _Cover them_ All these coverings were designed, 1st, For safety, that these holy things might not be sullied by rain, or tarnished by the sun. 2d, Fo... [ Continue Reading ]
_Shall take away the ashes from 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... [ Continue Reading ]
_Bear it_ Upon their shoulders. Afterward the priests themselves, being multiplied, carried these things, though the Levites were not excluded. _They shall not touch_ Before they are covered.... [ Continue Reading ]
_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.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Cut not off_ Do not by your neglect, provoke God to cut them off for touching the holy things. _Every one to his service_ To that which is peculiarly allotted to him, the services and burdens being equally distributed among them.... [ Continue Reading ]
_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.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Which is round about_ Which court compassed both the tabernacle and the altar. _Under the hand_ Under his conduct and direction.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ye shall reckon_ Every part and parcel shall be put in an inventory; which is required here rather than in the foregoing 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... [ Continue Reading ]
_Were numbered of them three thousand and two hundred_ 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... [ Continue Reading ]