Num. 4. God commands the Levites to be numbered from thirty till fifty years, fit for the service of the tabernacle; their charge, Num. 4:1–16. Of the Kohathites, Num. 4:17–20. Of the Gershonites, Num. 4:21–28. Of the sons of Merari, Num. 4:29–33. The number of each, Num. 4:34–45.

From thirty years old: this age was prescribed, as the age of full strength of body, and therefore most proper for their present laborious work of carrying the parts and vessels of the tabernacle; and of maturity of judgment, which is necessary for the right management of holy services; whence even…

Hereafter mentioned, as the ark, table, altar, &c. Compare Num. 3:31.

For upon this necessary occasion the inferior priests are allowed to come into the holy of holies, which otherwise was peculiar to the high priest, Heb. 9:7. The covering veil; the second veil; of which see Ex. 26:31;c. Lev. 4:6, Heb.

By the covering of badgers’ skins the ark was secured from the injuries of the weather:. Object. How could these staves be put in, when they were never to be taken out, Ex. 25:15, compared with 1 Kings 8:8. Answ. 1.

Of shew-bread, Heb. of faces or presence, for of the bread of faces or presence, i.e. of the bread which was continually standing in the presence of the Lord. The dishes, upon which the shew-bread was put. The continual bread, i.e.

So contrived that this cloth containing the candlestick &c., might be either laid upon it, or some other way fastened to it.

The golden altar; all covered with plates of gold.

The instruments of ministry; the sacred garments used by the priests in their holy ministrations. See Ex. 31:10.

From the altar of burnt-offerings; whereby it may seem probable, though it be denied by most, that they did offer some sacrifices in the wilderness, though it may not be so frequently nor orderly as afterwards they did.

Amongst all these vessels here and above named there is no mention of the brazen laver though that be elsewhere. reckoned among the holy things, as Ex. 35:16, Ex. 38:8, Ex. 39:39, Ex.

The sons of Kohath shall bear it, to wit upon their shoulders, not upon carts or waggons, as appears from Num. 7:9, the neglect of which order did provoke the Lord, 2 Sam. 6:6–7, 1 Chron. 13:7, 1 Chron. 15:12;c.

i.e. He himself is to carry these things, and not to commit them to the sons of Kohath. The daily meat-offering of fine flour, which was to be offered every morning and evening with the daily burnt-offering. See Ex. 29:38–39. The oversight of all the tabernacle, i.e.

i.e. Do not by your neglect provoke God to cut them off for touching the holy things.

To his service; to that which is peculiarly allotted to him, the services and burdens being equally distributed among them.

The curtains of the tabernacle, i.e. the curtains or covering of goats’ hair. The tabernacle of the congregation, i.e. the ten curious curtains which covered the boards of the tabernacle; for the boards themselves were carried by the Merarites. His covering, i.e.

The gate of the court, i.e. which court compassed both the tabernacle and the altar, Ex. 27:16.

Under his conduct and direction. Thus the hand of Hege, Est. 2:3, is his care and custody.

Which were as the feet upon which the pillars stood; of which see Ex. 38:27.

Every part and parcel therefore shall be put in an inventory; which is required here rather than in the foregoing particulars, partly, because these were much more numerous than the former; partly, because being meaner things, and such as might easily be supplied, they might otherwise have been…

Here appears the wisdom of Divine Providence, that whereas in the Kohathites and Gershonites, whose burdens were fewer 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.

Which number was much inferior to any other tribe, for the reasons mentioned on Num. 3:39.