TSK - NUMBERS 4

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


VERSE 1
   * :1


VERSE 2 
 - See on ch.
   * Nu 3:19,27


VERSE 3 
 - thirty years.
   * Nu 8:24-26 Ge 41:46 1Ch 23:3,24-27; 28:12,13 Lu 3:23 1Ti 3:6
- enter.
   * 2Ki 11:4-12 2Ch 23:1-11 2Co 10:3,4 Eph 6:10-18 1Ti 1:18
- to do.
   * Nu 3:7,8; 16:9 1Ch 6:48; 23:4,5,28-32 1Ti 3:1

VERSE 4
    * :15,19,24,30; 3:30,31 Mr 13:34


VERSE 5 
 - And when.
   * Nu 2:16,17; 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.

   * :15; 3:27-32
- they shall.
   * Ex 26:31-33; 36:35; 40:3 Isa 25:7 Mt 27:51 Heb 9:3; 10:20
- and cover.
   * Ex 25:10-22; 37:1-9 2Sa 6:2-9


VERSE 6 
 - badgers' skins.
  This was not the covering of badgers' skins made for the
  tabernacle, which was carried by the Gershonites, (ver. 24,
  25,) but one made for the purpose of concealing and
  sheltering the ark when it was to be carried.

- a cloth.
   * :7,8,11-13 Ex 35:19; 39:1,41
- 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.
   * Ex 25:13-15 1Ki 8:7,8


VERSE 7 
 - the table.
   * Ex 25:23-30; 37:10-16 Le 24:5-8
- cover with.  or, pour out with.  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.

VERSE 8
    * :6,7,9,11-13

VERSE 9
    * Ex 25:31-39; 37:17-24 Ps 105 119:105 Re 1:20; 2:1

VERSE 10
    * :6,12

VERSE 11
    * Ex 30:1-19; 37:25-28; 39:38; 40:5,26,27

VERSE 12
    * :7,9; 3:8 Ex 25:9; 31:10 2Ki 25:14,15 1Ch 9:29 2Ch 4:11,16,19,22


VERSE 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.

   * :6-9,11,12 Ex 27:3-5; 39:1,41 Le 6:12,13


VERSE 14 
 - all the vessels thereof.
   * Ex 38:1-7 2Ch 4:19
- basons.  or, bowls.


VERSE 15 
 - after that.
   * Nu 7:9; 10:21 De 31:9 Jos 4:10 2Sa 6:13 1Ch 15:2,15
- they shall.
   * Nu 3:38 Ex 19:12 1Sa 6:19 2Sa 6:6,7 1Ch 13:9,10 Heb 12:18-29
- These things.
   * Nu 3:30,31


VERSE 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.)

   * Nu 3:32
- the oil.
   * Ex 25:6; 27:20,21 Le 24:2
- the sweet.
   * Ex 30:34-38; 37:29
- the daily.
   * Ex 29:39-41
- the anointing.
   * Ex 30:23-33
- the oversight.
   * Lu 4:18 Ac 20:28 1Co 4:1 1Ti 2:5 Heb 3:1,6 1Pe 2:25; 5:2

VERSE 17
    * :17


VERSE 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.)

   * Nu 16:32; 17:10; 18:5 Ex 19:21 Le 10:1,2 1Sa 6:19 2Sa 6:6,7
   * Jer 38:23


VERSE 19 
 - the most holy.
   * :4


VERSE 20 
 - they shall.
   * :15,19 Ex 19:21 Le 10:2 1Sa 6:19 Heb 10:19,20 Re 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 1 Ki 8 8:8 with 2 Ch
  9 5:9, where that which is called the holy in the former, is
  called the ark in the latter.

VERSE 21


VERSE 22 
 - See on ch.
   * Nu 3:18,21,24


VERSE 23 
 - thirty years.  See on ver.
   * :3
- to perform the service.  Heb. to war the warfare.
   * :3 Isa 63:1-4 Ro 7:14-24 1Co 9:7 2Co 6:7; 10:3-5 Eph 6:10-19
   * Ga 5:17,24 1Ti 1:18 2Ti 2:3,4; 4:7


VERSE 24 
 - burdens.  or, carriage.
   * :15,19,27,31,32,47,49


VERSE 25 
 - the curtains.  See on ch.
   * Nu 3:25,26; 7:5-7
- the covering.
   * Ex 26:14


VERSE 26 
 - the hangings.
   * Ex 27:9
- and their cords.
   * Ex 35:18


VERSE 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.)

   * Lu 1:70 1Co 11:2

VERSE 28
    * :33 1Co 12:5,6


VERSE 29 
 - See on ch.
   * Nu 3:33-35


VERSE 30 
 - service.  Heb. warfare.  See on ver.
   * :3,23 Ps 110:1-7 1Ti 6:11,12 2Ti 2:4; 4:7,8


VERSE 31 
 - the charge.  See on ch.
   * Nu 3:36,37; 7:8,9
- the boards.
   * Ex 26:15


VERSE 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.
   * Nu 3:8; 7:1 Ex 25:9; 38:17,21 1Ch 9:29


VERSE 33 
 - under the hand.
   * :28 Jos 3:6 Isa 3:6

VERSE 34
    * :2

VERSE 35
    * :3,23,30,39,43,47; 8:24-26 1Ch 23:3,24,26,27; 28:13
   * Lu 3:23 1Ti 3:6
   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!


VERSE 36
   * :36

VERSE 37
    * :37

VERSE 38
    * :38

VERSE 39
    * :39

VERSE 40
    * Nu 3:32

VERSE 41
    * :22

VERSE 42
    * :42

VERSE 43
    * :43


VERSE 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, with ch. 22 3:22, 28, 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."

   * Nu 3:34 De 33:25 1Co 10:13; 12:8-12 2Co 12:9,10

VERSE 45
    * :29

VERSE 46


VERSE 47 
 - From thirty.
   * :3,23,30 1Ch 23:3,27
- every one.
   * :15,24,37 Ro 12:6-8 1Co 12:4-31

VERSE 48
    * Nu 3:39 Mt 7:14; 20:16; 22:15


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



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