Números 4

Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible

Números 4

NJB (MT versing) Duties of the Kohathites Duties of the Sons of Kohath Another Levitical Census The Duties of the Clan of Kohath The Levite Clans a. Kohathitites 4:1-4 4:1-3 4:1-4 4:1-4 4:1-3 4:4-16 4:4 4:5-15 4:5-15 4:5-6 4:5-6 4:7-8 4:7-8 4:9-10 4:9-10 4:11-15a 4:11 4:12 4:13-14 4:15-16 4:15b 4:16 4:16 4:16 4:17-20 4:17-20 4:17-20 4:17-20 4:17 Duties of the Gershonites Duties of the Sons of Gershon The Duties of the Clan of Gershon 4:18-20 b. Gershonites 4:21-28 4:21-28 4:21-28 4:21-28 4:21 4:22-23 4:24-26a 4:26b-28 Duties of the Merarites Duties of the Sons of Merari The Duties of the Levite Clan of Merari Merarites 4:29-33 4:29-33 4:29-33 4:29-33 4:29-30 4:31-32 4:33 Census of Levites The Census of the Levites Census of the Levites 4:34-37 4:34-37 4:34-37 4:34-49 4:34-37 4:38-41 4:38-41 4:38-41 4:38-41 4:42-45 4:42-45 4:42-45 4:42-45 4:46-49 4:46-49 4:46-49 4:46-49 Etc. CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS This is an elaboration of chapter 3. It lists males of the Levite families from the age of one month up, but in chapter 4 it lists males between 20-50 years, which was the time of service in the Tabernacle. The family of Kohath (NIDOTTE, vol. 4, pp. 855-856) has an extensive treatment because they carry the "most holy" things of the inner shrine. They were also the family from which Moses and Aaron came. Comparison of Numbers 3 and Numbers 4. Gershon ‒ Num. 3:17-18,21-26 Num. 4:21-28 Kohath ‒ Num. 3:17,19,27-31 Num. 4:2-15,17-20 Merari ‒ Num. 3:17,20,33-37 Num. 4:28-33

Números 4:1-4

4:1 "Take a census" This is a Qal INFINITIVE ABSOLUTE (cf. Num. 4:22), functioning as a Qal IMPERATIVE (cf. Num. 1:2; 26:2). The basic root means "lift up the head" (i.e., so as to count). 4:3 "from thirty years upward, even to fifty years old" This was the designated period of service in the Tabernacle for Levites (cf. Num. 4:43). Numbers 8:24-25 gives the time as 25 years to 50 years old. Some commentators have suggested a five year apprenticeship (NET Bible, p. 183). Apparently there were so few priests and Levites who returned to Judah after Cyrus II's decree that the age of service for them was expanded to 20 years up to 50 years old (cf. Ezra 3:8; compare 1 Chr. 23:4 with 23:24; 2 Chr. 31:17). 4:4 "the most holy things" This was the furniture of the shrine.

Números 4:5-15

4:5 "Aaron and his sons" The priests packed the Tabernacle and the Levites carried the pieces. ▣ "the veil of the screen" This is the veil between the Holy of Holies and the Holy Place. See SPECIAL TOPIC: TABERNACLE (chart). Also see note at Num. 3:25, #5. ▣ "the ark of the testimony" One wonders if the High Priest himself covered the ark in several layers of material. See SPECIAL TOPIC: ARK OF THE COVENANT. 4:6 "porpoise skin" NKJV, Peshitta "badger skins" NRSV, TEV, NJB "fine leather" JPSOA (Arabic root) "dolphin skin" JPSOA footnote at Ex. 25:5 "dyed sheep or goat skin" (Akkadian cognate root) "dugong-hide" (i.e., sea cows) -------- The LXX did not know how to translate this term (cf. Num. 4:6,8,10,11,12,14) and simply left it out. I think the NRSV is best guess (cf. Ezek. 16:10, where used of sandals). If so, it comes from an Egyptian process for dyed leather (i.e., Arabic root from Akkadian word for color). See SPECIAL TOPIC: PORPOISE SKINS and NIDOTTE, vol. 4, p. 287. ▣ "blue" See SPECIAL TOPIC: ANE SACRED COLORS. ▣ "shall insert the poles" The pieces of the Tabernacle (packed by priests, carried by Levites) were transported in two ways. by poles ark, Num. 4:6 table, Num. 4:8 incense altar and its utensils, Num. 4:11 sacrificial altar and its utensils, Num. 4:14 carrying bars lampstand, Num. 4:10 utensils of tabernacle, Num. 4:12 4:7 "the table of the bread of the Presence" See SPECIAL TOPIC: THE SHOW BREAD OF THE PRESENCE. ▣ "the jars for the libations" Wine was part of certain sacrificial offerings. See SPECIAL TOPIC: WINE AND STRONG DRINK. ▣ "the continual bread" See Exod. 25:30; Lev. 24:5-9. 4:8 "scarlet" See SPECIAL TOPIC: ANE SACRED COLORS. ▣ "dolphin skin" This same word (BDB 1065, cf. Num. 4:10,11,12) is translated by NASB as "porpoise skin" in Num. 4:6,14. See SPECIAL TOPIC: PORPOISE SKINS. 4:9 "the lampstand" See SPECIAL TOPIC: LAMPSTAND (Menorah). ▣ "snuffers" This term (BDB 544) is used in two senses. tool used to replace or extinguish the wicks on the lampstand ‒ Exod. 25:38; 37:23; Num. 4:9 tongs for moving coals ‒ Isa. 6:6; NASB translates 1 Kgs. 7:49 and 2 Chr. 4:21 as "tongs of gold" ▣ "tray" This term (BDB 367) has several connotations. snuffer-holder of gold for the lampstand ‒ Exod. 25:38; 37:23; Num. 4:9 fire pan of bronze for the altar of sacrifice ‒ Exod. 27:3; 38:3; Num. 4:14 censer of bronze ‒ Lev. 10:1; 16:12; Num. 16:6,17,18 The utensils of gold were for the holy place, while bronze is associated with the alter of sacrifice in the courtyard. 4:11 "the golden altar" See SPECIAL TOPIC: ALTAR OF INCENSE. 4:13 "ashes from the altar" This refers to the altar of sacrifice. See SPECIAL TOPIC: ALTAR OF SACRIFICE. These ashes were from the items sacrificed to YHWH. They became holy. There was a need to carry some of the "holy" ashes (i.e., fire) to the next location. 4:15 "they will not touch the holy objects and die" The Tabernacle was YHWH's temple and home. It was, therefore, holy and could not be touched by anyone except priests (cf. Num. 4:19-20; 2 Sam. 6:7). ▣ "carry" This is the same root as "take a census" in Num. 4:2,22 (INFINITIVE ABSOLUTE of BDB 669, KB 724, cf. Num. 4:25).

Números 4:16

4:16 Eleazar, Aaron's son, is again given a special task (cf. Num. 3:32). ▣ "the continual grain offering" This was part of a daily offering, morning and evening, of several sacrifices (cf. Lev. 6:20).

Números 4:17-20

4:18 "Do not let. . .be cut off" This is an IMPERFECT VERB (BDB 503, KB 500, Hiphil) used in a JUSSIVE sense. 4:19 "do this to them that they may live" This is a Qal IMPERATIVE (BDB 793, KB 889). For my full discussion of this subject see SPECIAL TOPIC: CAN HUMANS SEE GOD AND LIVE?

Números 4:21-28

4:23 "to do the work" This is a COGNATE ACCUSATIVE of BDB 712, KB 773 (i.e., Qal VERB and Qal INFINITIVE CONSTRUCT). This same VERB appears several times. Num. 4:26 ‒ Qal PERFECT with waw Num. 4:30 ‒ Qal INFINITIVE CONSTRUCT Num. 4:37 ‒ Qal PARTICIPLE It denotes service to the Tabernacle. 4:25 "screen for the doorway of the tent of meeting" See full note at Num. 3:25, #5. 4:28 "shall be under the direction of Ithamar the son of Aaron" Another of Aaron's sons (cf. Eleazar, cf. Num. 3:32; 4:16) is put in a position of leadership (cf. Num. 4:33).

Números 4:29-33

4:31 NASB, NKJV, Peshitta "boards" NRSV, TEV "frames" "framework" JPSOA, REB "planks" "the capitals of the tent" The MT has the rare word "boards," which comes from a root "to be solid" or "to be firm." In Ezek. 27:6 it refers to the decking of a ship. The basic meaning here is the wooden structure that supports the heavy skins that cover the shrine of the Tabernacle (cf. Exod. 26:15-19; 35:11; 36:20-34; 40:18; Num. 3:36). This wood was overlaid with gold (cf. Exod. 26:29; 36:34). They must have been very thick and strong to support this weight!