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 years old to fifty years old — everyone who is qualified to do work at the tent of meeting. 4“The service of the Kohathites at the tent of meeting concerns the most holy objects. Whenever the camp is about to move on, Aaron and his sons are to go in, take down the screening curtain, and cover the ark of the testimony with it. 6They are to place over this a covering made of fine leather, spread a solid blue cloth on top, and insert its poles. 7“They are to spread a blue cloth over the table of the Presence and place the plates and cups on it, as well as the bowls and pitchers for the drink offering. The regular bread offering is to be 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

Words taken from the KJV.

• And when the campמַחֲנֶהmachăneh · campH4264
• setteth forwardנָסַעnâsa‛ · to set outH5265
• Aaronאַהֲרֹן'ahărôn · AaronH175
• shall comeבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
• and his sonsבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
• and they shall take downיָרַדyârad · to go downH3381
• the coveringמָסָךְmâsâk · coveringH4539
• vailפָּרֹ֫כֶתpôreketh · curtainH6532
• and coverכָּסָהkâsâh · to coverH3680
• the arkאֲרוֹן'ârôn 'ârôn · arkH727
• of testimonyעֵדוּת‛êdûth · testimonyH5715

Cross-references for Numbers 4:5

• Numbers 2:16The total number in their military divisions who belong to Reuben’s encampment is 151,450; they will move out second.
• Numbers 10:14The military divisions of the camp of Judah’s descendants with their banner set out first, and Nahshon son of Amminadab was over their divisions.
• Numbers 4:15“Aaron and his sons are to finish covering the holy objects and all their equipment whenever the camp is to move on. The Kohathites will come and carry them, but they are not to touch the holy objects or they will die. These are the transportation duties of the Kohathites regarding the tent of meeting.
• Numbers 3:27The Amramite clan, the Izharite clan, the Hebronite clan, and the Uzzielite clan came from Kohath; these were the Kohathites.
• Exodus 26:31“You are to make a curtain of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen with a design of cherubim worked into it.
• Exodus 36:35Then he made the curtain with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen. He made it with a design of cherubim worked into it.
• Exodus 40:3Put the ark of the testimony there and screen off the ark with the curtain.
• Isaiah 25:7On this mountain he will swallow up the burial shroud, the shroud over all the peoples, the sheet covering all the nations.
• Matthew 27:51Suddenly, the curtain of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom, the earth quaked, and the rocks were split.
• Hebrews 9:3Behind the second curtain was a tent called the most holy place.
• Hebrews 10:20he has inaugurated for us a new and living way through the curtain (that is, through his flesh) —
• Exodus 25:10“They are to make an ark of acacia wood, forty-five inches long, twenty-seven inches wide, and twenty-seven inches high.
• Exodus 37:1Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood, forty-five inches long, twenty-seven inches wide, and twenty-seven inches high.
• 2 Samuel 6:2He and all his troops set out to bring the ark of God from Baale-judah. The ark bears the Name, the name of the Lord of Armies who is enthroned between the cherubim.

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