Numbers 3:38

Numbers 3:38 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But those that encamp before the tabernacle toward the east, even before the tabernacle of the congregation eastward, shall be Moses, and Aaron and his sons, keeping the charge of the sanctuary for the charge of the children of Israel; and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.
• New International Version (NIV)Moses and Aaron and his sons were to camp to the east of the tabernacle, toward the sunrise, in front of the tent of meeting. They were responsible for the care of the sanctuary on behalf of the Israelites. Anyone else who approached the sanctuary was to be put to death.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Those who were to camp before the tabernacle on the east, before the tent of meeting toward the sunrise, were Moses and Aaron and his sons, guarding the sanctuary itself, to protect the people of Israel. And any outsider who came near was to be put to death.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Moreover those who were to camp before the tabernacle on the east, before the tabernacle of meeting, were Moses, Aaron, and his sons, keeping charge of the sanctuary, to meet the needs of the children of Israel; but the outsider who came near was to be put to death.

Context of Numbers 3:38

36Now the appointed duties of the sons of Merari involved the frames of the tabernacle, its bars, its pillars, its sockets, all its equipment, and the service concerning them, 37and the pillars around the court with their sockets and their pegs and their cords. Now those who were to camp before the tabernacle eastward, before the tent of meeting toward the sunrise, are Moses and Aaron and his sons, performing the duties of the sanctuary for the obligation of the sons of Israel; but the layman coming near was to be put to death. 39All the numbered men of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron numbered at the command of the Lord by their families, every male from a month old and upward, were 22,000. 40Then the Lord said to Moses, “Number every firstborn male of the sons of Israel from a month old and upward, and make a list of their names.

Numbers 3:38 word by word

וְהַחֹנִ֣ים לִפְנֵ֣י הַמִּשְׁכָּ֡ן קֵ֣דְמָה לִפְנֵי֩ אֹֽהֶל־מוֹעֵ֨ד׀ מִזְרָ֜חָה מֹשֶׁ֣ה׀ וְאַהֲרֹ֣ן וּבָנָ֗יו שֹֽׁמְרִים֙ מִשְׁמֶ֣רֶת הַמִּקְדָּ֔שׁ לְמִשְׁמֶ֖רֶת בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְהַזָּ֥ר הַקָּרֵ֖ב יוּמָֽת׃Read the interlinear

• campחָנָהchânâh · to campH2583
• beforeפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
• the tabernacleמִשְׁכָּןmishkân · tabernacleH4908
• eastwardקֵ֫דֶםqedem qêdmâh · eastH6924
• the tentאֹ֫הֶל'ôhel · tentH168
• of meetingמוֹעֵדmô‛êd mô‛êd mô‛âdâh · meetingH4150
• toward the sunriseמִזְרָחmizrâch · eastH4217
• are Mosesמֹשֶׁהmôsheh · MosesH4872
• and Aaronאַהֲרֹן'ahărôn · AaronH175
• and his sonsבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
• performingשָׁמַרshâmar · to keep: guardH8104
• the dutiesמִשְׁמֶ֫רֶתmishmereth · chargeH4931
• of the sanctuaryמִקְדָּשׁmiqdâsh miqqedâsh · sanctuaryH4720
• of the sonsבֵּןbên · son: descendant/peopleH1121
• of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
• laymanזוּרzûr · be a strangerH2114
• comingקָרֵבqârêb · approachingH7131
• was to be putמוּתmûth · to dieH4191

Cross-references for Numbers 3:38

• Numbers 3:23The families of the Gershonites were to camp behind the tabernacle westward,
• Numbers 1:53But the Levites shall camp around the tabernacle of the testimony, so that there will be no wrath on the congregation of the sons of Israel. So the Levites shall keep charge of the tabernacle of the testimony.”
• Numbers 2:3Now those who camp on the east side toward the sunrise shall be of the standard of the camp of Judah, by their armies, and the leader of the sons of Judah: Nahshon the son of Amminadab,
• Numbers 1:10of the sons of Joseph: of Ephraim, Elishama the son of Ammihud; of Manasseh, Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur;
• Numbers 18:1So the Lord said to Aaron, “You and your sons and your father’s household with you shall bear the guilt in connection with the sanctuary, and you and your sons with you shall bear the guilt in connection with your priesthood.
• 1 Chronicles 6:48Their kinsmen the Levites were appointed for all the service of the tabernacle of the house of God.
• Numbers 3:7They shall perform the duties for him and for the whole congregation before the tent of meeting, to do the service of the tabernacle.

Commentaries on Numbers 3:38

• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 14-39Verses 14-39 The Levites were in three classes, according to the sons of Levi; Gershon, Kohath, and Merari; and these were subdivided into families. The posterity of Moses were not at all honoured or privileged, but stood upon the level with other Levites; thus it was plain, that Moses did not seek the advancement of his own family, or to secure any honours to it. The tribe of Levi was by much the least of all the tribes. God's chosen are but a little…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 38The best campsite east of the tabernacle was for Moses, Aaron, and Aaron’s sons.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3838. those that encamp, &c.--That being the entrance side, it was the post of honor, and consequently reserved to Moses and the priestly family. But the sons of Moses had no station here.Read the comment

Topics related to Numbers 3:38

• Census
• Levites

In the dictionaries

• Aaron
• Israel
• Moses
• Israel, Israelites
• Jacob, Israel
• Children of Israel
• Camp
• Chief
• Conclude
• Custody

Commentaries on Numbers 3

• 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
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings