1ER redete zu Mosche und zu Aharon, sprechend: 2Erhebe den Häupterbestand der Söhne Khats aus der Mitte der Söhne Lewis, nach ihren Sippen, nach ihrem Väterhaus, 3vom Dreißigjährigen aufwärts, bis zum Fünfzigjährigen, alles was zur Heerschar eingeht, Arbeit zu machen am Zelt der Begegnung. 4Dies ist der Dienst der Söhne Khats am Zelt der Begegnung: das Heiligende der Heiligtume. 5Aharon gehe ein und seine Söhne beim Abzug des Lagers, sie sollen den Verhang der Schirmung hinsenken und in ihn den Schrein der Vergegenwärtigung hüllen 6und darauf eine Hüllung von Seekuhhaut geben und obenauf ein Gewand, ein Ganzes von Hyazinth breiten und seine Stangen anlegen. 7Auf den Tisch des Angesichts sollen sie ein Gewand von Hyazinth breiten und darauf die Schüsseln, die Schalen, die Kellen und die Kannen des Gusses geben, auch das stetige Brot sei darauf, 8und sollen auf sie ein Gewand von Karmesin breiten und ihn in eine Hülle von Seekuhhaut hüllen und seine Stangen anlegen. 9Sie sollen ein Gewand von Hyazinth nehmen und einhüllen den Leuchter der Erhellung und seine Lichte, seine Zänglein und seine Pfännchen, und alle seine Ölgeräte, mit denen man daran amtet, 10sie sollen ihn und alle Geräte in eine Hülle von Seekuhhaut geben und auf die Bahre geben. 11Auf die goldene Statt sollen sie ein Gewand von Hyazinth breiten und sie in eine Hülle von Seekuhhaut hüllen und ihre Stangen anlegen. 12Sie sollen alle Geräte des Amtens nehmen, mit denen man am Heiligen amtet, und in ein Gewand von Hyazinth geben und sie in eine Hülle von Seekuhhaut hüllen und auf die Bahre geben. 13Sie sollen die Schlachtstatt entaschen, sollen auf sie alle ein Gewand von Purpur breiten, 14sollen auf sie alle ihre Geräte geben, mit denen man auf ihr amtet, die Pfannen, die Gabeln, die Schaufeln, die Sprengen, alle Geräte der Schlachtstatt, sie sollen darauf eine Hüllung von Seekuhhaut breiten und ihre Stangen anlegen. 15Hat nun Aharon und seine Söhne vollendet das Heilige und alle Geräte des Heiligen zu hüllen, beim Abzug des Lagers, danach sollen die Söhne Khats kommen um zu tragen, daß sie das Heilige nicht berühren und sterben. Diese sind die Traglast der Söhne Khats am Zelt der Begegnung. 16Und die Zuordnung Elasars Sohns Aharons des Priesters: das Öl der Erhellung und das Räucherwerk der Gedüfte, die stete Hinleitspende und das Öl der Salbung; die Ordnung der Wohnung all und all dessen, was an ihr ist, am Heiligen und an seinen Geräten. 17ER redete zu Mosche und Aharon, sprechend: 18Laßt nicht den Zweig der Khatsippen gerodet werden aus der Mitte der Lewiten, 19sondern dies tut ihnen, daß sie leben und nicht sterben, wann sie an das Heiligende der Heiligtume treten: Aharon und seine Söhne sollen eingehen, sollen sie setzen, Mann um Mann an seine Bedienung und zu seiner Traglast, 20daß sie nicht eingehn, zuzusehen wie das Heilige eingeschlungen wird, und sterben. 21ER redete zu Mosche, sprechend: 22Erhebe den Häupterbestand der Söhne Gerschons, ihrer auch, nach ihrem Väterhaus, nach ihren Sippen, 23vom Dreißigjährigen aufwärts bis zum Fünfzigjährigen sollst du sie einordnen, alles was eingeht, sich zur Heerschar zu scharen, Dienst am Zelt der Begegnung zu dienen. 24Dies ist der Dienst der Gerschonsippen, an Bedienen und an Traglast: 25sie sollen tragen die Teppiche der Wohnung und das Zelt der Begegnung, seine Hülle und die Hülle von Seekuhhaut, die darüber obenauf ist, die Schirmung des Einlasses zum Zelt der Begegnung, 26die Matten des Hofs, die Schirmung des Toreinlasses zum Hof, der rings um die Wohnung und um die Schlachtstatt ist, ihre Stricke und alle Geräte ihres Stelldiensts; und alles, was daran zu tun ist, sollen sie dienen. 27Auf das Geheiß Aharons und seiner Söhne sei aller Dienst der Gerschonsöhne, nach all ihrer Traglast und nach all ihrer Bedienung. Ihr sollt ihnen zu Verwahr all ihre Traglast zuordnen. 28Dies der Dienst der Sippen der Gerschonsöhne im Zelt der Begegnung und ihre Verwahr, unter der Hand Itamars Sohns Aharons des Priesters. 29Die Söhne Mraris, nach ihren Sippen, nach ihrem Väterhaus sollst du sie einordnen, 30vom Dreißigjährigen aufwärts bis zum Fünfzigjährigen ordne sie ein, alles was zur Heerschar eingeht, Dienst am Zelt der Begegnung zu dienen. 31Und dies ist die Verwahr ihrer Traglast, nach all ihrem Dienst am Zelt der Begegnung: die Balken der Wohnung, ihre Riegel, ihre Ständer, ihre Sockel, 32die Ständer des Hofs ringsum, ihre Sockel, ihre Pflöcke und ihre Stricke, samt allen ihren Geräten und samt all ihrer Bedienung.. Mit Namen zuordnen sollt ihr die Geräte der Verwahr ihrer Traglast. 33Dies der Dienst der Sippen der Söhne Mraris, all ihr Dienst am Zelt der Begegnung, unter der Hand Itamars Sohns Aharons des Priesters. 34Mosche ordnete ein und Aharon und die Fürsten der Gemeinschaft die Khatsöhne nach ihren Sippen, nach ihrem Väterhaus, 35vom Dreißigjährigen aufwärts bis zum Fünfzigjährigen, alles was zur Heerschar eingeht, zum Dienst am Zelt der Begegnung, 36und ihrer Eingeordneten waren nach ihren Sippen zweitausend siebenhundert und fünfzig. 37Dieses sind die Eingeordneten der Khatsippen, alles am Zelt der Begegnung Dienende, die einordnete Mosche und Aharon, auf SEIN Geheiß in Mosches Hand. 38Und der Eingeordneten der Söhne Gerschons nach ihren Sippen, nach ihrem Väterhaus, 39vom Dreißigjährigen aufwärts bis zum Fünfzigjährigen, alles was zur Heerschar eingeht, zum Dienst am Zelt der Begegnung, 40ihrer Eingeordneten waren nach ihren Sippen, nach ihrem Väterhaus, zweitausend sechshundert und dreißig. 41Dies die Eingeordneten der Sippen der Söhne Gerschons, alles am Zelt der Begegnung Dienende, die einordnete Mosche und Aharon auf SEIN Geheiß. 42Und der Eingeordneten der Sippen der Söhne Mraris, nach ihren Sippen, nach ihrem Väterhaus, 43vom Dreißigjährigen aufwärts bis zum Fünfzigjährigen, alles was zur Heerschar eingeht, zum Dienst am Zelt der Begegnung, 44ihrer Eingeordneten waren nach ihren Sippen dreitausend und zweihundert. 45Dies die Eingeordneten der Sippen der Söhne Mraris, die einordnete Mosche und Aharon, auf SEIN Geheiß in Mosches Hand. 46Aller Eingeordneten, die einordnete Mosche und Aharon und die Fürsten Jissraels bei den Lewiten, nach ihren Sippen, nach ihrem Väterhaus, 47vom Dreißigjährigen aufwärts bis zum Fünfzigjährigen, alles was eingeht, den Dienst der Bedienung und den Dienst der Traglast am Zelt der Begegnung zu dienen, 48ihrer Eingeordneten waren achttausend und fünfhundert und achtzig. 49Auf SEIN Geheiß in Mosches Hand ordnete man sie ein, Mann für Mann an seine Bedienung und an seine Traglast: seine Zuordnungen, die ER Mosche geboten hatte.
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary 1 We have here a second muster of the tribe of Levi. As that tribe was taken out of all Israel to be God's peculiar, so the middle-aged men of that tribe were taken from among the rest to be actually employed in the service of the tabernacle. Now observe,
I. Who were to be taken into this number. All the males from thirty years old to fifty. Of the other tribes, those that were numbered to go forth to war were from twenty years old and upward, but of the Levites only from thirty to fifty; for the service of God requires the best of our strength, and the prime of our time, which cannot be better spent than to the honour of him who is the first and best. And a man may make a good soldier much sooner than a good minister. Now,
1. They were not to be employed till they were thirty years old, because till then they were in danger of retaining something childish and youthful and had not gravity enough to do the service, and wear the honour, of a Levite. They were entered as probationers at twenty-five years old, (
Num 8:24), and in David's time, when there was more work to be done, at twenty (
1Chr 23:24, and so
Ezra 3:8); but they must be five years learning and waiting, and so fitting themselves for service; nay, in David's time they were ten years in preparation, from twenty to thirty. John Baptist began his public ministry, and Christ his, at thirty years old. This is not in the letter of it obligatory on gospel ministers now, as if they must either not begin their work till thirty years old or must leave off at fifty; but it gives us two good rules: - (1.) That ministers must not be novices,
1Tim 3:6. It is a work that requires ripeness of judgment and great steadiness, and therefore those are very unfit for it who are but babes in knowledge and have not put away childish things. (2.) That they must learn before they teach, serve before they rule, and must
first be proved, 1Tim 3:10.
2. They were discharged at fifty years old from the toilsome part of the service, particularly that of carrying the tabernacle; for that is the special service to which they are here ordained, and which there was most occasion for while they were in the wilderness. When they began to enter upon old age, they were dismissed, (1.) In favour to them, that they might no be over-toiled when their strength began to decay. Twenty years' good service was thought pretty well for one man. (2.) In honour to the work, that it might not be done by those who, through the infirmities of age, were slow and heavy. The service of God should be done when we are in the most lively active frame. Those do not consider this who put off their repentance to old age, and so leave the best work to be done in the worst time.
II. How their work is described. They are said to
enter into the host, or warfare,
to do the work in the tabernacle. The ministry is
a good work (
1Tim 3:1): ministers are not ordained to the honour only, but to the labour, not only to have the wages, but to do the work. It is also a
good warfare, 1Tim 1:18. Those that enter into the ministry must look upon themselves as entered into the
host, and approve themselves
good soldiers, 2Tim 2:3. Now, as to the sons of Kohath in particular, here is,
1. Their service appointed them, in the removes of the tabernacle. Afterwards, when the tabernacle was fixed, they had other work assigned them; but this was the work of the day, which was to be done in its day. Observe, Wherever the camp of Israel went, the tabernacle of the Lord went with them, and care must be taken for the carriage of it. Note, Wherever we go, we must see to it that we take our religion along with us, and not forget that or any part of it. Now the Koliathites were to carry all the holy things of the tabernacle. They were charged with those things before (
Num 3:31), but here they have more particular instructions given them. (1.) Aaron, and his sons the priests, must pack up the things which the Kohathites were to carry, as here directed,
Num 4:5, etc. God had before appointed that none should come into the most holy place, but only Aaron once a year with a cloud of incense (
Lev 16:2); and yet, the necessity of their unsettled state requiring it, that law is here dispensed with; for every time they removed Aaron and his sons went in to take down the ark, and make it up for carriage; for (as the learned bishop Patrick suggests) the
shechinah, or display of the divine majesty, which was over the mercy-seat, removed for the present in the pillar of cloud, which was taken up, and then the ark was not dangerous to be approached. (2.) All the holy things must be covered, the ark and table with three coverings, all the rest with two. Even the ashes of the altar, in which the holy fire was carefully preserved and raked up, must have a purple cloth spread over them,
Num 4:13. Even the brazen altar, though in the court of the sanctuary it stood open to the view of all, yet was covered in the carriage of it. All these coverings were designed, [1.] For safety, that these holy things might not be ruffled with the wind, sullied with the rain, nor tarnished with the sun, but that they might be preserved in their beauty; for
on all the glory shall be a defence. The coverings of badgers' skins, being thick and strong, would keep out wet; and, while we are in our passage through the wilderness of this world, it concerns us to be fenced
for all weathers, Isa 4:5,
Isa 4:6. [2.] For decency and ornament. Most of these things had a cloth of blue, or purple, or scarlet, spread outmost; and the ark was covered with a cloth
wholly of blue (
Num 4:6), an emblem (say some) of the azure skies, which are spread like a curtain between us and the Majesty on high,
Job 26:9. Those that are faithful to God should endeavour likewise to appear beautiful before men, that they may
adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour. [3.] For concealment. It signified the darkness of that dispensation. That which is now brought to light by the gospel, and revealed to babes, was then hidden from the wise and prudent. They saw only the coverings, not the holy things themselves (
Hebre 10:1); but now Christ has
destroyed the face of the covering, Isa 25:7. (3.) When all the holy things were covered, then the Kohathites were to carry them on their shoulders. These things that had staves were carried by their staves (
Num 4:6,
Num 4:8,
Num 4:11,
Num 4:14); those that had not were carried upon a bar, or bier, or bearing barrow,
Num 4:10,
Num 4:12. See how the tokens of God's presence in this world are movable things; but we look for a kingdom that cannot be moved.
2. Eleazar, now the eldest son of Aaron, is appointed overseer of the Kohathites in this service (
Num 4:16); he must take care that nothing was forgotten, left behind, or displaced. As a priest he had more honour than the Levites, but then he had more care; and that care was a heavier burden, no doubt, upon his heart, than all the burdens that were laid upon their shoulders. It is much easier to do the work of the tabernacle than to discharge the trusts of it, to obey than to rule.
3. Great care must be taken to preserve the lives of these Levites, by preventing their unseasonable irreverent approach to the most holy things:
Cut you not off the Kohathites, Num 4:18. Note, Those who do not what they can to keep others from sin do what they can to cut them off. [1.] The Kohathites must not see the holy things till the priests had covered them,
Num 4:20. Even those that bore the vessels of the Lord saw not what they bore, so much were even those in the dark concerning the gospel whose office it was to expound the law. And, [2.] When the holy things were covered, they might not touch them, at least not the ark, called here
the holy thing, upon pain of death,
Num 4:15. Uzza was struck dead for the breach of this law. Thus were the Lord's ministers themselves then kept in fear, and that was a dispensation of terror, as well as darkness; but now, through Christ, the case is altered; we have
seen with our eyes, and our
hands have handles, the word of life (
1John 1:1), and we are encouraged to
come boldly to the throne of grace. 21 We have here the charge of the other two families of the Levites, which, though not so honourable as the first, yet was necessary, and was to be done regularly. 1. The Gershonites were charged with all the drapery of the tabernacle, the curtains, and hangings, and the coverings of badgers' skins,
Num 4:22-
Num 4:26. These they were to take down when the cloud removed, and the ark and the rest of the holy things were carried away, to pack up and bring with them, and then to set up again, where the cloud rested. Aaron and his sons allotted to them their respective charge: You shall take care of such a curtain, and you of such a hanging, that every one may know his work, and there may be no confusion,
Num 4:27. Ithamar particularly was to take the oversight of them,
Num 4:28. 2. The Merarites were charged with the heavy carriage, the boards and bars, the pillars and sockets, the pins and cords, and these were delivered to them by name,
Num 4:31,
Num 4:32. An inventory was given them of every particular, that it might be forthcoming, and nothing to seek, when the tabernacle was to be set up again. Though these seemed of less importance than the other things pertaining to the sanctuary, yet there was this care taken of them, to teach us with the greatest exactness to preserve pure and entire all divine institutions, and to take care that nothing be lost. It also intimates the care God takes of his church, and every member of it; the good Shepherd
calls his own sheep by name, John 10:3. Here were thousands of men employed about these services, though a much less number would have served for the bearing of those burdens; but it was requisite that the tabernacle should be taken down, and set up, with great expedition, and many hands would make quick work, especially when every one knew his work. They had tents of their own to take care of, and to take along with them, but the young men under thirty, and the old men above fifty, might serve for them; nor is there any mention of them, for God's house must always be preferred before our own. Their care was preposterous who built and ceiled their own houses while God's house lay waste,
Hag 1:4,
Hag 1:9. The death of the saints is represented as the taking down of the tabernacle (
2Cor 5:1), and the putting of it off,
2Pet 1:14. The immortal soul, like the most holy things, is first covered and taken away, carried by angels, unseen, under the inspection of the Lord Jesus, our Eleazar. Care is also taken of the body - the skin and flesh, which are as the curtains, the bones and sinews which are as the bars and pillars; none of these shall be lost; commandment is given concerning the bones, a covenant made with the dust; these are in safe custody, and shall all be produced in the great day, when this tabernacle shall be set up again, and these vile bodies made like the glorious body of Jesus Christ.
34 We have here a particular account of the numbers of the three families of the Levites respectively, that is, of the effective men, between thirty years old and fifty. Observe, 1. The Kohathites were, in all, 8600 from a month old and upwards; but of these there were but 2750 serviceable men, not a third part. The Gershonites, in all, 7500, and of them but 2630 serviceable men, little more than a third part. Note, Of the many that add to the numbers of the church, there are comparatively but few that contribute to the service of it. So it has been, and so it is; many have a place in the tabernacle that do but little of the work of the tabernacle,
Phili 2:20,
Phili 2:21. 2. That the Merarites were but 6200 in all, and yet of these there were 3200 serviceable men, that is, more than half. The greatest burden lay upon that family, the boards, and pillars, and sockets; and God so ordered it that, though they were the fewest in number, yet they should have the most able men among them; for whatever service God calls men to he will furnish them for it, and give strength in proportion to the work, grace sufficient. 3. The whole number of the able men of the tribe of Levi who entered into God's host to war his warfare was but 8580, whereas the able men of the other tribes that entered into the host of Israel to war their warfare were many more. The least of the tribes had almost four times as many able men as the Levites, and some of them more than eight times as many; for those that are engaged in the service of this world, and war after the flesh, are many more than those that are devoted to the service of God, and
fight the good fight of faith.
