Young’s Literal Translation (EN)

1And Jehovah speaketh unto Moses, and unto Aaron, saying, 2"Take up the sum of the sons of Kohath from the midst of the sons of Levi, by their families, by the house of their fathers; 3from a son of thirty years and upward, even till a son of fifty years, every one going in to the host, to do work in the tent of meeting. 4"This is the service of the sons of Kohath in the tent of meeting, the holy of holies: 5that Aaron and his sons have come in, in the journeying of the camp, and have taken down the vail of the hanging, and have covered with it the ark of the testimony; 6and have put on it a covering of badger skin, and have spread a garment completely of blue above, and have placed its staves. 7"And on the table of the presence they spread a garment of blue, and have put on it the dishes, and the spoons, and the bowls, and the cups of the libation, and the bread of continuity is on it, 8and they have spread over them a garment of scarlet, and have covered it with a covering of badger skin, and have placed its staves, 9and have taken a garment of blue, and have covered the candlestick of the lamp, and its lights, and its snuffers, and its snuff-dishes, and all its oil vessels wherewith they minister to it; 10and they have put it and all its vessels unto a covering of badger skin, and have put it on the bar. 11"And on the golden altar they spread a garment of blue, and have covered it with a covering of badger skin, and have placed its staves; 12and have taken all the vessels of ministry wherewith they minister in the sanctuary, and have put them unto a garment of blue, and have covered them with a covering of badger skin, and have put them on the bar, 13and have removed the ashes of the altar, and have spread over it a garment of purple; 14and have put on it all its vessels wherewith they minister about it, the censers, the hooks, and the shovels, and the bowls, all the vessels of the altar, and have spread on it a covering of badger skin, and have placed its staves: 15"And Aaron hath finished -- his sons also -- covering the sanctuary, and all the vessels of the sanctuary, in the journeying of the camp, and afterwards do the sons of Kohath come in to bear it, and they do not come unto the holy thing, that they have died; these things are the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tent of meeting. 16"And the oversight of Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, is the oil of the lamp, and the spice-perfume, and the present of continuity, and the anointing oil, the oversight of all the tabernacle, and of all that is in it, in the sanctuary, and in its vessels." 17And Jehovah speaketh unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, 18"Ye do not cut off the tribe of the families of the Kohathite from the midst of the Levites; 19but this do to them, and they have lived, and do not die in their drawing nigh the holy of holies: -- Aaron and his sons go in, and have set them, each man to his service, and unto his burden, 20and they go not in to see when the holy thing is swallowed, that they have died."  21And Jehovah speaketh unto Moses, saying, 22"Take up the sum of the sons of Gershon also by the house of their fathers, by their families; 23from a son of thirty years and upward, till a son of fifty years thou dost number them, every one who is going in to serve the host, to do the service in the tent of meeting. 24"This is the service of the families of the Gershonite, to serve -- and for burden, 25and they have borne the curtains of the tabernacle, and the tent of meeting, its covering, and the covering of the badger skin which is on it above, and the vail at the opening of the tent of meeting, 26and the hangings of the court, and the vail at the opening of the gate of the court which is by the tabernacle, and by the altar round about, and their cords, and all the vessels of their service, and all that is made for them -- and they have served. 27"By the command of Aaron and his sons is all the service of the sons of the Gershonite in all their burden, and in all their service; and ye have laid a charge on them concerning the charge of all their burden. 28This is the service of the families of the sons of the Gershonite in the tent of meeting; and their charge is under the hand of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest. 29"The sons of Merari, by their families, by the house of their fathers, thou dost number them; 30from a son of thirty years and upward even unto a son of fifty years thou dost number them, every one who is going in to the host, to do the service of the tent of meeting. 31"And this is the charge of their burden, of all their service in the tent of meeting; the boards of the tabernacle, and its bars, and its pillars, and its sockets, 32and the pillars of the court round about, and their sockets, and their pins, and their cords, of all their vessels, and of all their service; and by name ye do number the vessels of the charge of their burden. 33"This is the service of the families of the sons of Merari, for all their service, in the tent of meeting, by the hand of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest." 34And Moses numbereth -- Aaron also, and the princes of the company -- the sons of the Kohathite, by their families, and by the house of their fathers, 35from a son of thirty years and upward even unto a son of fifty years, every one who is going in to the host, for service in the tent of meeting, 36and their numbered ones, by their families, are two thousand seven hundred and fifty. 37These are those numbered of the families of the Kohathite, every one who is serving in the tent of meeting, whom Moses and Aaron numbered, by the command of Jehovah, by the hand of Moses. 38And those numbered of the sons of Gershon, by their families, and by the house of their fathers, 39from a son of thirty years and upward even unto a son of fifty years, every one who is going in to the host, for service in the tent of meeting, 40even their numbered ones, by their families, by the house of their fathers, are two thousand and six hundred and thirty. 41These are those numbered of the families of the sons of Gershon, every one who is serving in the tent of meeting, whom Moses and Aaron numbered by the command of Jehovah. 42And those numbered of the families of the sons of Merari, by their families, by the house of their fathers, 43from a son of thirty years and upward even unto a son of fifty years, every one who is going in to the host, for service in the tent of meeting, 44even their numbered ones, by their families, are three thousand and two hundred. 45These are those numbered of the families of the sons of Merari, whom Moses and Aaron numbered, by the command of Jehovah, by the hand of Moses. 46All those numbered, whom Moses numbered -- Aaron also, and the princes of Israel -- of the Levites, by their families, and by the house of their fathers, 47from a son of thirty years and upward even unto a son of fifty years, every one who is going in to do the work of the service, even the service of burden in the tent of meeting, 48even their numbered ones are eight thousand and five hundred and eighty; 49by the command of Jehovah hath one numbered them, by the hand of Moses, each man by his service, and by his burden, with his numbered ones, as Jehovah hath commanded Moses.


Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
 1   Num 4:1 The age at which the Levites were to begin to serve, and the duration of the service.
Num 4:4 The duty of the Kohathites.
Num 4:16 The charge of Eleazar.
Num 4:17 The office of the priests.
Num 4:21 The duty of the Gershonites;
Num 4:29 of the Merarites.
Num 4:34 The number of the Kohathites;
Num 4:38 of the Gershonites
Num 4:42 and of the Merarites.
Num 4:1

 2   Num 3:19 Num 3:27

 3   thirty years.
Num 8:24 - Num 8:26 Gen 41:46 1Chr 23:3 1Chr 23:24 - 1Chr 23:27 1Chr 28:12 1Chr 28:13 Luke 3:23 1Tim 3:6
enter.
2Kgs 11:4 - 2Kgs 11:12 2Chr 23:1 - 2Chr 23:11 2Cor 10:3 2Cor 10:4 Eph 6:10 - Eph 6:18 1Tim 1:18
to do.
Num 3:7 Num 3:8 Num 16:9 1Chr 6:48 1Chr 23:4 1Chr 23:5 1Chr 23:28 - 1Chr 23:32 1Tim 3:1

 4   Num 4:15 Num 4:19 Num 4:24 Num 4:30 Num 3:30 Num 3:31 Mark 13:34

 5   And when.
Num 2:16 Num 2:17 Num 10:14
Aaron shall come. The law prohibiting any person, except the high priest on one day in the year, to enter into the most holy place, must have admitted an exception while the Israelites were in the wilderness: that exception, therefore, is here expressly made; and the directions given respecting it must be religiously observed, or the service could not be safely performed. While the cloud rested on the tabernacle, the general rule was in force; but when it was removed, then the priests might enter to prepare the sacred vessels for removal.
Num 4:15 Num 3:27 - Num 3:32
they shall.
Exod 26:31 - Exod 26:33 Exod 36:35 Exod 40:3 Isa 25:7 Matt 27:51 Heb 9:3 Heb 10:20
and cover.
Exod 25:10 - Exod 25:22 Exod 37:1 - Exod 37:9 2Sam 6:2 - 2Sam 6:9

 6   badgers' skins. This was not the covering of badgers' skins made for the tabernacle, which was carried by the Gershonites, (ver. 24, 25, Num 4:24 and Num 4:25) but one made for the purpose of concealing and sheltering the ark when it was to be carried.
a cloth.
Num 4:7 Num 4:8 Num 4:11 - Num 4:13 Exod 35:19 Exod 39:1 Exod 39:41
and shall put. Wesamoo baddaiv, rather, "and adjust the staves thereof;" i.e., dispose them rightly under the covering, that they might be laid on their shoulders: for the staves were never taken out of the rings.
the staves.
Exod 25:13 - Exod 25:15 1Kgs 8:7 1Kgs 8:8

 7   the table.
Exod 25:23 - Exod 25:30 Exod 37:10 - Exod 37:16 Lev 24:5 - Lev 24:8
cover withal. or, pour out withal. the continual. The Israelites, without doubt, were able to procure corn enough from the adjacent countries, even when in the wilderness, to make the shewbread, and to present the daily meat offerings.


 8   Num 4:6 Num 4:7 Num 4:9 Num 4:11 - Num 4:13

 9   Exod 25:31 - Exod 25:39 Exod 37:17 - Exod 37:24 Ps 119:105 Rev 1:20 Rev 2:1

 10   Num 4:6 Num 4:12

 11   Exod 30:1 - Exod 30:19 Exod 37:25 - Exod 37:28 Exod 39:38 Exod 40:5 Exod 40:26 Exod 40:27

 12   Num 4:7 Num 4:9 Num 3:8 Exod 25:9 Exod 31:10 2Kgs 25:14 2Kgs 25:15 1Chr 9:29 2Chr 4:11 2Chr 4:16 2Chr 4:19 2Chr 4:22

 13   The embers of the sacred fire seem to have been removed in the grate, which was carried apart from the brazen altar; both being covered from view by purple cloths.
Num 4:6 - Num 4:9 Num 4:11 Num 4:12 Exod 27:3 - Exod 27:5 Exod 39:1 Exod 39:41 Lev 6:12 Lev 6:13

 14   all the vessels thereof.
Exod 38:1 - Exod 38:7 2Chr 4:19
basons. or, bowls.


 15   after that.
Num 7:9 Num 10:21 Deut 31:9 Josh 4:10 2Sam 6:13 1Chr 15:2 1Chr 15:15
they shall.
Num 3:38 Exod 19:12 1Sam 6:19 2Sam 6:6 2Sam 6:7 1Chr 13:9 1Chr 13:10 Heb 12:18 - Heb 12:29
These things.
Num 3:30 Num 3:31

 16   the office. Eleazar himself, perhaps with the other priests, was required to carry the oil for the light, the incense, and the flour for the daily meat offering, and the holy ointment; besides superintending the Levites. It may be supposed, that he himself carried no more of the oil than for present use. (see ver. 9 Num 4:9.)
Num 3:32
the oil.
Exod 25:6 Exod 27:20 Exod 27:21 Lev 24:2
the sweet.
Exod 30:34 - Exod 30:38 Exod 37:29
the daily.
Exod 29:39 - Exod 29:41
the anointing.
Exod 30:23 - Exod 30:33
the oversight.
Luke 4:18 Acts 20:28 1Cor 4:1 1Tim 2:5 Heb 3:1 Heb 3:6 1Pet 2:25 1Pet 5:2

 17   Num 4:17

 18   Eleazar and the priests would be chargeable with the death of the Kohathites, if they failed to give them proper cautions and directions; or permitted them to gaze with irreverence or curiosity upon the holy things, which they might carry, but not see. (ver. 20. Num 4:20)
Num 16:32 Num 17:10 Num 18:5 Exod 19:21 Lev 10:1 Lev 10:2 1Sam 6:19 2Sam 6:6 2Sam 6:7 Jer 38:23

 19   the most holy.
Num 4:4

 20   they shall.
Num 4:15 Num 4:19 Exod 19:21 Lev 10:2 1Sam 6:19 Heb 10:19 Heb 10:20 Rev 11:19
the holy things. Hakkodesh, "the holy," or "sanctuary," i.e., the ark, as the Jews generally understand it; and with good reason, as any one may be convinced, who compares 1Kgs 8:8 with 2Chr 5:9, where that which is called the holy in the former, is called the ark in the latter.


 21   Num 4:21

 22   Num 3:18 Num 3:21 Num 3:24

 23   thirty years.
Num 4:3
to perform the service. Heb. to war the warfare.
Num 4:3 Isa 63:1 - Isa 63:4 Rom 7:14 - Rom 7:24 1Cor 9:7 2Cor 6:7 2Cor 10:3 - 2Cor 10:5 Eph 6:10 - Eph 6:19 Gal 5:17 Gal 5:24 1Tim 1:18 2Tim 2:3 2Tim 2:4 2Tim 4:7

 24   burdens. or, carriage.
Num 4:15 Num 4:19 Num 4:27 Num 4:31 Num 4:32 Num 4:47 Num 4:49

 25   the curtains.
Num 3:25 Num 3:26 Num 7:5 - Num 7:7
the covering.
Exod 26:14

 26   the hangings.
Exod 27:9
and their cords.
Exod 35:18

 27   appointment. Heb. mouth. The Levites were under the command of the priests. Eleazar exercised this authority in general, as next in succession to Aaron: and he in particular was placed over the Kohathites; while Ithamar, his younger brother, commanded the Gershonites and Merarites. (ver. 33. Num 4:33)
Luke 1:70 1Cor 11:2

 28   Num 4:33 1Cor 12:5 1Cor 12:6

 29   Num 3:33 - Num 3:35

 30   service. Heb. warfare.
Num 4:3 Num 4:23 Ps 110:1 - Ps 110:7 1Tim 6:11 1Tim 6:12 2Tim 2:4 2Tim 4:7 2Tim 4:8

 31   the charge.
Num 3:36 Num 3:37 Num 7:8 Num 7:9
the boards.
Exod 26:15

 32   and by name. An inventory was taken of every particular, even to the very pins belonging to each part, that nothing might be wanting when the tabernacle was set up.
the instruments.
Num 3:8 Num 7:1 Exod 25:9 Exod 38:17 Exod 38:21 1Chr 9:29

 33   under the hand.
Num 4:28 Josh 3:6 Isa 3:6

 34   Num 4:2

 35   Num 4:3 Num 4:23 Num 4:30 Num 4:39 Num 4:43 Num 4:47 Num 8:24 - Num 8:26 1Chr 23:3 1Chr 23:24 1Chr 23:26 1Chr 23:27 1Chr 28:13 Luke 3:23 1Tim 3:6

 36   In the third chapter we have an account of the whole number of the Levites; and here of those only who were able to serve the Lord in the sanctuary. By comparing the two places, we find the number of the effective and ineffective males to stand thus:--
Kohathites. Effective men . . . . . . . 2,750 Ineffective . . . . . . . . 5,850 ----- Total 8,600
Gershonites. Effective men . . . . . . . 2,630 Ineffective . . . . . . . . 4,870 ----- Total 7,500
Merarites. Effective men . . . . . . . 3,200 Ineffective . . . . . . . . 3,000 ----- Total 6,200
Thus we find that the whole number of the Levites amounted to 22,300; of whom 8,580 were fit for service and 13,720 unfit, being either too old or too young. What an astonishing number of men, all performing some service by which God was glorified, and the congregation at large benefited!
Num 4:36

 37   Num 4:37

 38   Num 4:38

 39   Num 4:39

 40   Num 3:32

 41   Num 4:22

 42   Num 4:42

 43   Num 4:43

 44   The family of Merari, though smaller than either of the other families of Levi, yet had a greater number of able men than any of them; for out of 6,200 males of a month old and upwards, we find 3,200 who were neither too young nor too old for the service of the sanctuary; which was more than one-half of their whole number. In this the wisdom and providence of God appear most conspicuously; for the Merarites were charged with the heaviest part of the sanctuary, as the boards, bars, sockets, etc; and though waggons were afterwards provided for them, yet the loading and unloading of the sockets, and other things of great weight, would require much strength, both bodily and numerical. (Compare ver. 36, 40, Num 4:36, Num 4:40, with ch. 3:22, 28, 24. Num 3:22, Num 3:28, Num 3:24.) Thus God ever manifests his wisdom, in fitting men for the work to which they are appointed, whether with respect to number or gifts: "For to one is given, by the Spirit, the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge, by the same Spirit; to another faith, by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing, by the same Spirit; to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: but all these worketh that one and the self-same Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will."
Num 3:34 Deut 33:25 1Cor 10:13 1Cor 12:8 - 1Cor 12:12 2Cor 12:9 2Cor 12:10

 45   Num 4:29

 46   Num 4:46

 47   From thirty.
Num 4:3 Num 4:23 Num 4:30 1Chr 23:3 1Chr 23:27
every one.
Num 4:15 Num 4:24 Num 4:37 Rom 12:6 - Rom 12:8 1Cor 12:4 - 1Cor 12:31

 48   Num 3:39 Matt 7:14 Matt 20:16 Matt 22:15

 49   According to the.
Num 4:37 Num 4:41 Num 4:45 Num 1:54 Num 2:33 Num 3:51
every one.
Num 4:15 Num 4:24 Num 4:31 Isa 11:2 - Isa 11:4 Isa 42:1 - Isa 42:7 Isa 49:1 - Isa 49:8 Rom 12:4 - Rom 12:8
as the Lord.
Num 4:1 Num 4:21