Numbers 4:5

Numbers 4:5 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And when the camp setteth forward, Aaron shall come, and his sons, and they shall take down the covering vail, and cover the ark of testimony with it:
• New International Version (NIV)When the camp is to move, Aaron and his sons are to go in and take down the shielding curtain and put it over the ark of the covenant law.
• English Standard Version (ESV)When the camp is to set out, Aaron and his sons shall go in and take down the veil of the screen and cover the ark of the testimony with it.
• New King James Version (NKJV)When the camp prepares to journey, Aaron and his sons shall come, and they shall take down the covering veil and cover the ark of the Testimony with it.

Context of Numbers 4:5

3men from thirty to fifty years old—everyone who is qualified to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting. 4This service of the Kohathites at the Tent of Meeting regards the most holy things. Whenever the camp sets out, Aaron and his sons are to go in, take down the veil of the curtain, and cover the ark of the Testimony with it. 6They are to place over this a covering of fine leather, spread a solid blue cloth over it, and insert its poles. 7Over the table of the Presence they are to spread a blue cloth and place the plates and cups on it, along with the bowls and pitchers for the drink offering. The regular bread offering is to remain on it.

Numbers 4:5 word by word

וּבָ֨א אַהֲרֹ֤ן וּבָנָיו֙ בִּנְסֹ֣עַ הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֔ה וְהוֹרִ֕דוּ אֵ֖ת פָּרֹ֣כֶת הַמָּסָ֑ךְ וְכִ֨סּוּ־בָ֔הּ אֵ֖ת אֲרֹ֥ן הָעֵדֻֽת׃Read the interlinear

• Whenever the campמַחֲנֶהmachăneh · campH4264
• sets outנָסַעnâsa‛ · to set outH5265
• Aaronאַהֲרֹן'ahărôn · AaronH175
• and his sonsבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
• are to go inבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
• take downיָרַדyârad · to go downH3381
• ·אֵת'êth · [Obj.]H853
• the veilפָּרֹ֫כֶתpôreketh · curtainH6532
• of the curtainמָסָךְmâsâk · coveringH4539
• and coverכָּסָהkâsâh · to coverH3680
• the arkאֲרוֹן'ârôn 'ârôn · arkH727
• of the Testimonyעֵדוּת‛êdûth · testimonyH5715

Cross-references for Numbers 4:5

• Numbers 2:16The total number of men in the divisions of the camp of Reuben is 151,450; they shall set out second.
• Numbers 10:14First, the divisions of the camp of Judah set out under their standard, with Nahshon son of Amminadab in command.
• Numbers 4:15When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy objects and all their equipment, as soon as the camp is ready to move, the Kohathites shall come and do the carrying. But they must not touch the holy objects, or they will die. These are the transportation duties of the Kohathites regarding the Tent of Meeting.
• Numbers 3:27From Kohath came the clans of the Amramites, the Izharites, the Hebronites, and the Uzzielites; these were the clans of the Kohathites.
• Exodus 26:31Make a veil of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen, with cherubim skillfully worked into it.
• Exodus 36:35Next, he made the veil of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen, with cherubim skillfully worked into it.
• Exodus 40:3Put the ark of the Testimony in it and screen off the ark with the veil.
• Isaiah 25:7On this mountain He will swallow up the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations;
• Matthew 27:51At that moment the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth quaked, and the rocks were split.
• Hebrews 9:3Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place,
• Hebrews 10:20by the new and living way opened for us through the curtain of His body,
• Exodus 25:10And they are to construct an ark of acacia wood, two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high.
• Exodus 37:1Bezalel went on to construct the ark of acacia wood, two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high.
• 2 Samuel 6:2And he and all his troops set out for Baale of Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the Name— the name of the LORD of Hosts, who is enthroned between the cherubim that are on it.

Commentaries on Numbers 4:5

• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 4-20Verses 4-20 The Kohathites were to carry the holy things of the tabernacle. All the holy things were to be covered; not only for security and respect, but to keep them from being seen. This not only marked the reverence due to holy things, but the mystery of the things signified by those types, and the darkness of the dispensation. But now, through Christ, the case is altered, and we are encouraged to come boldly to the throne of grace.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4-20The duties of the Kohathites come first because they handled the most holy objects (see 3:27–32). This might be because Aaron and the priests came from this clan (1 Chronicles 6:2–3). Their tasks included carrying, setting up, and folding up these holy and very important coverings and furnishings. The items entrusted to Kohath's descendants were very valuable. These included: the ark of the Testimony, the table of the Bread of the Presence, the lampstand…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 4-154-15. This shall be the service of the sons of Kohath, &c.--They are mentioned first, from their close connection with Aaron; and the special department of duty assigned to them during the journeyings of Israel accorded with the charge they had received of the precious contents of the tabernacle. But these were to be previously covered by the common priests, who, as well as the high priest, were admitted on such necessary occasions into the holy place…Read the comment

Topics related to Numbers 4:5

• Altar
• Ark
• Colors
• Levites
• Priest
• Tabernacle
• Vail

In the dictionaries

• Aaron
• Ark of Testimony
• Appoint
• Ark
• David
• Kohathites
• Ministry
• Proportion
• Sinai
• Agrapha

Commentaries on Numbers 4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings