Numbers 4:4

_THIS SHALL BE THE SERVICE OF THE SONS OF KOHATH IN THE TABERNACLE OF THE CONGREGATION, ABOUT THE MOST HOLY THINGS:_ This shall be the service ... The Kohathites are mentioned first, from their close connection with Aaron; and the special department of duty assigned to them during the journeyings of Israel accorded with the charge they had received of the precious contents of the tabernacle. But these were to be previously covered by the common priests, who, as well as the high priest, were admitted on such necessary occasions into the holy place. This was an exception to the general rule, which prohibited the entrance of any but the high priest. But when the cloud removed from the tabernacle, the sanctuary might be entered by the common priests, as to them was reserved the exclusive privilege of packing the sacred utensils; and it was not until the holy things were thus ready for carri...

4._This shall be the service of the sons of Kohath. _He assigns their various offices to the Levites: firstly, lest their promiscuous sedulity should beget confusion; secondly, lest ambition should stimulate certain of them, (203) from whence disputes and contentions might arise. We know how confusedly men work unless a certain rule is prescribed to them, lest they should run about in an aimless hurry; and whilst each individual desires to anticipate others, an unworthy emulation ensues, which afterwards vents itself in quarrels. If, therefore, this had not been prevented, the Levites would soon have made disturbances in their duty, and contentions would have taken place between them. God, then, comes forward, and by His own authority confines them all within their proper bounds, and restrains their foolish passions. That a more honorable office is assigned to the sons of Kohath than to...

4-20 The Kohathites were to carry the holy things of the tabernacle. All the holy things were to be covered; not only for security and respect, but to keep them from being seen. This not only marked the reverence due to holy things, but the mystery of the things signified by those types, and the darkness of the dispensation. But now, through Christ, the case is altered, and we are encouraged to come boldly to the throne of grace....

ABOUT THE MOST HOLY THINGS - Omit “about.” The sense is, “this is the charge of the sons of Kohath, the most holy things:” i. e. the ark of the covenant, the table of showbread, the candlestick, and the golden altar, together with the furniture pertaining thereto. It appears, from a comparison of Numbers 4:16, Numbers 4:28, Numbers 4:33, that the ministry of the Kohathites was superintended by Eleazar, the older of the two surviving sons of Aaron; and that of the two other families by Ithamar....

EXPOSITION THE DUTIES OF THE LEVITES (Numbers 4:1). NUMBERS 4:2 TAKE THE SUM OF THE SONS OF KOHATH. The Levites having been separated from the other tribes, the Kohathites are now to be separated from amongst the other Levites for the most honourable and sacred duties. To them the preference was given presumably because the priests were Kohathites. NUMBERS 4:3 FROM THIRTY YEARS OLD AND UPWARD. The age at which they became liable for service was shortly after reduced to twenty-five ...

THIS [SHALL BE] THE SERVICE OF THE SONS OF KOHATH, IN THE TABERNACLE OF THE CONGREGATION,.... What follows, Numbers 4:4; [ABOUT] THE MOST HOLY THINGS; which Aben Ezra interprets only of the ark, which was indeed a most holy thing, and stood in the most holy place; but there were other holy things, in the care of which the service of the Kohathites lay; as the shewbread table, the candlestick, and the altars of incense and burnt offering, and the vail, and the ministering: vessels, which Jarchi reckons with it, as more holy than all other things....

Numbers 4:1. _And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, Take the sum of the sons of Kohath from among the sons of Levi, after their families, by the house of their fathers,_ There were three families, those of Kohath, Gershon, and Merari, and to each of these families a different service was allotted. First, they were to be numbered. «The Lord knoweth them that are his,» and he takes count of all his people. Numbers 4:3. _From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, all that enter into the host, to do the work in the tabernacle of the congregation._ They were to take up this work as a warfare; for, though it was a peaceful work, yet it is described as being a warfare: and he who serves the Lord, though that service be perfect peace, will not serv

CHAPTER 4 The Service of the Levites and their Numbering _ 1. The children of Kohath; their service (Numbers 4:1)_ 2. The sons of Gershon; their service (Numbers 4:21) 3. The sons of Merari; their service (Numbers 4:29) 4. Their numbering for service (Numbers 4:34) This chapter enters more fully into the service of the Levites. They are mustered for service “from thirty years old and upwards even unto fifty years old.” As we saw in the previous chapter, their service was to carry the holy things of Jehovah through the wilderness. The wilderness is for us the type of the world through which we p

A CENSUS OF THE LEVITES QUALIFIED TO SERVE ABOUT THE TABERNACLE, AND THE APPORTIONMENT OF THEIR DUTIES. This census includes all males between 30 and 50 (_cf._ 1 Chronicles 23:3). In Numbers 8:23 the limits of age are 25 and 50 (and the LXX substitutes 25 for 30 in this passage also); in 1 Chronicles 23:24; 2 Chronicles 31:17; Ezra 3:8 the inferior limit is 20, and no superior limit is specified. The variation no doubt corresponds to changes which prevailed at different periods. The task of packing the contents of the Tabe

MOST HOLY. the holiest. Hebrew holiness of holinesses. See note on Exodus 3:5....