Numbers 4:8-49

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Numbers 4:1-20

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... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Numbers 4:21-33

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. 4:22-26. 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... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Numbers 4:34-49

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... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 4:8

And they shall spread upon them a cloth of scarlet ,.... Upon the dishes and other vessels belonging to the shewbread table, and on the shewbread itself: and cover the same with a covering of badgers' skins ; this was clearly the outward covering, and seems to confirm the observation made in Numbers 4:6 ; that the same sort of covering was the outermost covering of the ark: and shall put in the staves thereof ; which belonged to the table, and were made to carry it with on... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 4:9

And they shall take a cloth of blue, and cover the candlestick of the light, and his lamps ,.... Which had lamps in it, and were continually lighted, and gave light in the holy place: and his tongs, and his snuff dishes, and all the oil vessels thereof , wherewith they minister unto it ; by supplying the lamps with oil, and snuffing and trimming them. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 4:10

And they shall put it, and all the vessels thereof, within a covering of badgers' skins ,.... Which here also was the outermost covering; the ark and the shewbread table had three coverings, but the candlestick only two, they being more sacred than that, especially the ark: and shall put it upon a bar ; the word "mot" perhaps signifies a kind of mat or mattress, on which the candlestick and its vessels, bundled together in the covering of the badgers' skins, were laid and carried... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 4:11

And upon the golden altar they shall spread a cloth of blue ,.... The altar of incense, which was overlaid with gold, and therefore called a golden one, to which the allusion is in Revelation 8:3 , and cover it with a covering of badgers' skins ; after the cloth of blue was spread upon it: and shall put to the staves thereof ; into the rings, both made to bear and carry it, upon occasion, from place to place. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 4:12

And they shall take all the instruments of ministry , wherewith they minister in the sanctuary ,.... The garments in which the priests, ministered in the sanctuary, which were laid up in proper places, and which they only wore when in service: and put them in a cloth of blue, and cover them with a covering of badgers' skins ; all wrapped up in one bundle: and shall put them on a bar ; the same sort of carriage on which the candlestick and its vessels were borne; see Gill on ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 4:13

And they shall take away the ashes from the altar, and spread a purple cloth thereon. Having cleared the holy of holies, and the holy place, they were to come forth from thence into the court of the tabernacle, where stood the altar of burnt offering, which is here meant, and on which sacrifices being daily burnt, there were always ashes to be removed; and which at this time was highly necessary to be done, when the tabernacle was taken down, and all belonging to it to be carried away; and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 4:14

And they shall put upon it all the vessels thereof ,.... Upon the altar covered with a blue cloth; on that were to be put everything belonging to the altar: wherewith they minister about it ; the priests, when they offered sacrifice on it: even the censers, the fleshhooks, and the shovels, and the basins , all the vessels of the altar ; of which see Exodus 27:3 , and they shall spread upon it a covering of badgers' skins : to prevent the rains falling upon them, which... read more

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