1I korero ano a Ihowa ki a Mohi raua ko Arona, i mea, 2Taua nga tama a Kohata, i roto i nga tama a Riwai, tenei hapu, tenei hapu o ratou, i nga whare o o ratou matua, 3Nga mea e toru tekau, he maha atu ranei o ratou tau, a tae noa ki nga mea e rima tekau o ratou tau, nga mea katoa e uru ana ki te mahi, ki te mea i nga mea o te tapenakara o te whakaminenga. 4Ko te mahi tenei ma nga tama a Kohata i roto i te tapenakara o te whakaminenga, ko nga mea tino tapu: 5A ka maunu te puni, me haere a Arona ki roto, ratou ko ana tama, ka tuku i te arai hipoki ki raro, a ka hipoki iho ki te aaka o te whakaaturanga: 6Na ka maka iho te hipoki ki runga, ara nga hiako pateri, a ka uhi iho i tetahi kakahu ki runga, he mea puru katoa, ka kuhu i nga amo. 7Me uhi ano ki te kakahu puru te tepu taro aroaro, ka whakatakoto ai i nga rihi ki runga, me nga koko, me nga peihana, me nga kapu hei ringihanga: hei runga ano hoki te taro pumau takoto ai: 8Ka uhi ki te kakahu ngangana, ka hipoki ai ki te hiako pateri hei hipoki mo runga, ka kuhu i ona amo. 9Na ka mau ratou ki tetahi kakahu puru, ka hipoki ai i te turanga whakamarama, i ona rama hoki, i ona kuku, i ona oko ngarahu, i ona oko hinu katoa, i nga mea e minita ai ratou ki reira: 10Ka hoatu ai me ona mea katoa ki roto ki te takai, hei te mea hiako pateri, ka whakaeke ai ki runga ki te amo. 11A me uhi iho e ratou he kakahu puru ki runga ki te aata koura, ka hipoki ai ki tetahi hipoki hiako pateri, ka kuhu ai i ona amo: 12Na ka mau ki nga mea e minita ai ratou i te wahi tapu, ka hoatu ki roto ki te kakahu puru, ka hipoki ki tetahi hipoki hiako pateri, ka whakaeke ki te amo: 13Na ka tahi atu ratou i nga pungarehu o te aata, ka hipoki ai ki te kakahu papaura: 14Me whakatakoto ano ki runga ona oko katoa e minita ai ratou ki reira, nga tahu kakara, nga marau kikokiko, nga koko pungarehu, nga peihana, nga mea katoa o te aata; ka hipoki ai ki te hipoki hiako pateri, ka kuhu ai i ona amo. 15A ka oti i a Arona ratou ko ana tama te hipoki te wahi tapu, me nga mea katoa o te wahi tapu, ina tata te puni te maunu; ka mutu, na ka haere mai nga tama a Kohata ki te kauhoa: otiia kaua ratou e pa ki tetahi mea tapu kei mate ratou. Ko enei ng a mea a nga tama a Kohata e mau ai o te tapenakara o te whakaminenga. 16A, ko ta Ereatara, ko ta te tama a te tohunga, a Arona, e whakaaro ai, ko te hinu mo te whakamarama, ko te whakakakara reka, ko te whakahere totokore o tenei ra, o tenei ra, ko te hinu whakawahi, me te tirotiro i te tapenakara katoa, i nga mea k atoa hoki o reira, i te wahi tapu, i ona mea hoki. 17I korero ano a Ihowa ki a Mohi raua ko Arona, i mea, 18Kei hatepea atu e koutou te iwi o nga hapu o nga Kohati i roto i nga Riwaiti: 19Engari ko tenei ta koutou e mea ai ki a ratou, kia ora ai ratou, kei mate, ina whakatata ki nga mea tino tapu: me haere a Arona ratou ko ana tama ki roto, ka whakarite ai i a ratou ki tana mahi, ki tana mahi, ki tana amohanga, ki tana amohanga: 20Otiia kaua ratou e haere ki roto ki te matakitaki i te wahi tapu ahakoa he wa poto, kei mate ratou. 21I korero ano a Ihowa ki a Mohi, i mea, 22Taua hoki nga tama a Kerehona, i nga whare o o ratou matua, i o ratou hapu: 23Ko nga mea e toru tekau, he maha atu ranei nga tau, a tae noa ki nga mea e rima tekau o ratou tau, au e tatau ai; ko nga mea katoa hoki e uru ana ki te mahi i nga mahi o te tapenakara o te whakaminenga. 24Ko te mahi tenei ma nga hapu o nga Kerehoni, ko te mahi, ko te amo: 25Ma ratou hoki e amo nga pa o te tapenakara, te tapenakara hoki o te whakaminenga, tona hipoki, me te hipoki hiako pateri i waho ake, me te pa o te whatitoka o te tapenakara o te whakaminenga; 26Me nga pa o te marae, me te pa mo te whatitoka o te kuwaha o te marae, o tera i te tapenakara, i te aata a tawhio noa, me nga aho, me nga mea katoa mo te mahinga o aua mea, me nga mea katoa i hanga mo aua mea: ko ta ratou mahi tena. 27Kei a Arona ratou ko ana tama te tikanga mo nga mahi katoa a nga tama a nga Kerehoni, mo a ratou amohanga katoa, mo a ratou mahi katoa: ma koutou hoki e whakarite ki a ratou te tikanga mo nga mea katoa e amo ai ratou. 28Ko te mahi tenei ma nga hapu o nga tama a Kerehona i te tapenakara o te whakaminenga: a, ko nga tikanga ma ratou kei a Itamara tama a te tohunga, a Arona. 29Ko nga tama a Merari, me tatau ratou e koe i o ratou hapu, i nga whare o o ratou matua; 30Ko nga mea e toru tekau, he maha atu ranei o ratou tau, a tae noa ki nga mea e rima tekau o ratou tau, au e tatau ai, ko nga tangata katoa e uru ana ki te mahi, ki te mahi i te mahi o te tapenakara o te whakaminenga. 31A ko te tikanga ano tenei mo ta ratou e amo ai, i a ratou mahinga katoa i te tapenakara o te whakaminenga; ko nga papa o te tapenakara, me ona kaho, me ona pou, me ona turanga pou; 32Me nga pou o te marae a tawhio noa, me nga turanga pou, me nga titi, me nga aho, me nga mea katoa o aua mea, me nga mea katoa o ena mahinga: me tatau a ingoa nga mea kei a ratou nei te tikanga mo te amo. 33Ko te mahi tenei a nga hapu o nga tama a Merari, i a ratou mahinga katoa i te tapenakara o te whakaminenga, i raro i te ringa o Itamara tama a te tohunga, a Arona. 34Na ka taua e Mohi ratou ko Arona, ko nga ariki o te whakaminenga, nga tama a nga Kohati, i o ratou hapu, i nga whare ano o o ratou matua, 35Nga mea e toru tekau, he maha atu ranei o ratou tau, a tae noa ki nga mea e rima tekau o ratou tau, nga tangata katoa i uruki te mahi, ki te mahi i te tapenakara o te whakaminenga: 36A taua ake o ratou, i o ratou hapu, e rua mano e whitu rau e rima tekau. 37Ko enei i taua o nga hapu o nga Kohati, ko nga tangata hei mahi i te tapenakara o te whakaminenga, i taua nei e Mohi raua ko Arona, pera me ta Ihowai whakahau ai, na te ringa o Mohi. 38Ataua ake o nga tama a Kerehona i o ratou hapu, i nga whare o o ratou matua, 39Nga mea e toru tekau, he maha atu ranei o ratou tau, a tae noa ki nga mea e rima tekau o ratou tau, nga mea katoa i uru ki te mahi, ki te mahi i te tapenakara o te whakaminenga, 40Taua ake o ratou i o ratou hapu, i nga whare o o ratou matua, e rua mano e ono rau e toru tekau. 41Ko enei i taua o nga hapu o nga tama a Kerehona, o nga tangata katoa hei mahi i te tapenakara o te whakaminenga, i taua nei e Mohi raua ko Arona, pera me ta Ihowa i whakahau ai. 42A taua ake o nga hapu o nga tama a Merari, i o ratou hapu, i nga whare o o ratou matua, 43Nga mea hoki e toru tekau, he maha atu ranei o ratou tau, a tae noa ki nga mea e rima tekau o ratou tau, nga tangata katoa i uru ki te mahi, hei mahi i te tapenakara o te whakaminenga, 44Taua ake o ratou i o ratou hapu, e toru mano e rua rau. 45Ko enei i taua o nga hapu o nga tama a Merari, i taua nei e Mohi raua ko Arona, pera me ta Ihowa i whakahau ai, na te ringa o Mohi. 46Ko nga tangata katoa o nga Riwaiti i taua, a Mohi ratou ko Arona, ko nga ariki o Iharaira i tatau ai, i o ratou hapu, i nga whare o o ratou matua, 47Ko nga mea hoki e toru tekau, he maha atu ranei o ratou tau, a tae noa ki nga mea e rima tekau o ratou tau, ko nga tangata katoa i uru ki te mahi i nga mahi e mahia ana, ki te mahi hoki, ki te amoamo i roto i te tapenakara o te whakaminenga; 48Taua ake o ratou e waru mano e rima rau e waru tekau. 49Rite tonu ki ta Ihowa i whakahau ai te tauanga o ratou e te ringa o Mohi, tenei, tenei, me tana mahi, me tana amo: na poto ake ratou te tatau e ia, te pera me ta Ihowa i whakahau ai ki a Mohi.
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 2 OF THE LEVITES' SERVICE. (Num. 4:1-49)
sons of Kohath, from thirty years old and upward--This age was specifically fixed (see on
Num 8:24) as the full maturity of bodily energy to perform the laborious duties assigned them in the wilderness, as well as of mental activity to assist in the management of the sacred services. And it was the period of life at which John the Baptist and Christ entered on their respective ministries.
even unto fifty--The term prescribed for active duty was a period of twenty years, at the end of which they were exempted from the physical labors of the office, though still expected to attend in the tabernacle (
Num 8:26).
all that enter into the host--so called from their number, the order and discipline maintained through their ranks, and their special duty as guards of the tabernacle. The Hebrew word, however, signifies also a station or office; and hence the passage may be rendered, "All that enter into the sacerdotal office" (
Num 4:23).
4 This shall be the service of the sons of Kohath, &c.--They 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 till the holy things were thus ready for carriage, that the Kohathites were allowed to approach.
5 covering veil--the inner veil, which separated the holy from the most holy place. (See on
Exod 36:35).
6 covering of badgers' skins--(See on
Exod 25:5). The covering, however, referred to was not that of the tabernacle, but one made for the special purpose of protecting the ark.
put in the staves--These golden staves were now taken out. (See on
Exod 25:15, compared with
1Kgs 8:8). The Hebrew word rendered "put in," signifies also "dispose," and probably refers here to their insertion through the openings in the coverings made for receiving them, to preserve them from the touch of the carriers as well as from the influence of the weather. It is worthy of notice that the coverings did not consist of canvas or coarse tarpaulin, but of a kind which united beauty with decency.
7 continual showbread--Though the people were in the wilderness fed upon manna, the sacred loaves were constantly made of corn, which was probably raised in small quantities from the verdant patches of the desert.
10 a bar--or bier, formed of two poles fastened by two cross pieces and borne by two men, after the fashion of a sedan chair.
12 instruments of ministry--the official dress of the priests (
Exod 31:10).
13 shall take away the ashes from the altar, &c.--The necessity of removing ashes from the altar plainly implies that sacrifices were offered in the wilderness (compare
Exod 18:12;
Exod 24:4), though that rebellious race seems frequently to have neglected the duty (
Amos 5:25). No mention is made of the sacred fire; but as, by divine command, it was to be kept constantly burning, it must have been transferred to some pan or brazier under the covering, and borne by the appointed carriers.
15 the sons of Kohath shall come to bear it, but they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die--The mode of transport was upon the shoulders of the Levites (see on
Num 7:9), although afterwards wheeled vehicles were employed (
2Sam 6:3;
1Chr 15:12). And it was allowed to touch the covering, but not the things covered, on the penalty of death, which was inflicted more than once (
1Sam 6:19;
2Sam 6:6-7). This stern denunciation was designed to inspire a sentiment of deep and habitual reverence in the minds of those who were officially engaged about holy things.
16 to the office of Eleazar . . . pertaineth the oil for the light, and the sweet incense, &c.--He was charged with the special duty of superintending the squadron who were employed in the carrying of the sacred furniture; besides, to his personal care were committed the materials requisite for the daily service, and which it was necessary he should have easily at his command (
Exod 29:38).
17 Cut ye not off the tribe of the families of the Kohathites from among the Levites, &c.--a solemn admonition to Moses and Aaron to beware, lest, by any negligence on their part, disorder and improprieties should creep in, and to take the greatest care that all the parts of this important service be apportioned to the proper parties, lest the Kohathites should be disqualified for their high and honorable duties. The guilt of their death would be incurred by the superintending priest, if he failed to give proper directions or allowed any irreverent familiarity with sacred things.
24 This is the service of the families of the Gershonites, &c.--They were appointed to carry "the curtains of the tabernacle"--that is, the goats' hair covering of the tent--the ten curious curtains and embroidered hangings at the entrance, with their red morocco covering, &c.
28 their charge shall be under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron, &c.--The Levites were generally subject to the official command of the priests in doing the ordinary work of the tabernacle. But during the journeyings Eleazar, who was next in succession to his father, took the special charge of the Kohathites [
Num 4:16], while his brother Ithamar had the superintendence of the Gershonites and Merarites [
Num 4:33].
29 As for the sons of Merari--They carried the coarser and heavier appurtenances, which, however, were so important and necessary, that an inventory was kept of them--not only on account of their number and variety, but of their comparative commonness and smallness, which might have led to their being lost or missing through carelessness, inadvertency, or neglect. It was a useful lesson, showing that God disregards nothing pertaining to His service, and that even in the least and most trivial matters, He requires the duty of faithful obedience.
34 Moses and Aaron and the chief of the congregation numbered the sons of the Kohathites, &c.--This enumeration was made on a different principle from that which is recorded in the preceding chapter [
Num 3:15]. That was confined to the males from a month old and upward, while this was extended to all capable of service in the three classes of the Levitical tribe. In considering their relative numbers, the wisdom of Divine Providence appears in arranging that, whereas in the Kohathites and Gershonites, whose burdens were few and easier, there were but about a third part of them which were fit for service; the Merarites, whose burdens were more and heavier, had above one half of them fit for this work [POOLE]. The small population of this tribe, so inferior to that of the other tribes, is attempted to be explained (see on
Num 3:39).