Numbers 4

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 4:46

All those that were numbered of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron and the chief of Israel numbered ,.... See Gill on Numbers 3:34 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 4:47

From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old ,.... See Gill on Numbers 4:34 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 4:48

Even those that were numbered of them ,.... See Gill on Numbers 4:34 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 4:49

According to the commandment of the Lord, they were numbered by the hand of Moses ,.... Aaron and the chief of the congregation of Israel assisting it: everyone according to his service ; called in Numbers 4:47 "the service of the ministry", or "service of service", which Jarchi interprets of that part of the service of the Levites, which lay in singing the song with cymbals and harps; which, he says, was a service to another service; though it seems to be better explained, by... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 4

Moses is commanded to take the sum of the sons of Kohath from thirty years old and upward, Numbers 4:1-4 . The service which they had to perform, Numbers 4:5-15 . The office of Eleazar, Numbers 4:16 . The family of Kohath to be continued among the Levites, Numbers 4:17-19 . They are not to go into the holy of holies, Numbers 4:20 . The sum of the sons of Gershon, Numbers 4:21-23 . The service they had to perform, Numbers 4:24-27 . They are to be under Ithamar, Numbers 4:28 .... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 4:3

From thirty years old - In Numbers 8:24 , the Levites are ordered to enter on the service of the tabernacle at the age of twenty-five years; and in 1 Chronicles 23:24 , they were ordered to commence that work at twenty years of age. How can these different times be reconciled? At the time of which Moses speaks here, the Levitical service was exceedingly severe, and consequently required men full grown, strong, and stout, to perform it; the age therefore of thirty years was appointed as... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 4:20

When the holy things are covered - Literally, כבלע keballa , when they are swallowed down; which shows the promptitude with which every thing belonging to the holy of holies was put out of sight, for these mysteries must ever be treated with the deepest reverence; and indeed without this they could not have been to them the representatives of heavenly realities. See the concluding note Numbers 4:36 ; (note). read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 4:36

Those that were numbered - In Numbers 3:27 , etc., 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 numbers to stand thus: - Levite Family Able Men Unable Men Total Kohathites 2,750 5,850 8,600 Gershonites 2,630 4,870 7,500 Merarites 3,200 3,000 6,200 Thus we find that the whole number of the Levites amounted to 22,300, of whom 3,580 were fit for service, and 13,720... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 4:1

Verse 1 1.And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron This census had a different object from the former one, which we have just been considering, viz., that an equal distribution of the charges should be made in proportion to the number of the individuals. First, as regarded age, a distinction must be observed between this tribe and the others; for we have already seen that all the Israelites above twenty years of age were numbered, because they were then fit to bear arms. But it was not... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 4:4

Verse 4 4.This shall be the service of the sons of Kohath. He assigns their various offices to the Levites: firstly, lest their promiscuous sedulity should beget confusion; secondly, lest ambition should stimulate certain of them, (203) from whence disputes and contentions might arise. We know how confusedly men work unless a certain rule is prescribed to them, lest they should run about in an aimless hurry; and whilst each individual desires to anticipate others, an unworthy emulation ensues,... read more

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