Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Numbers 4:4
This [shall be] the service of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation, [about] the most holy things:
4. the most holy things ] The furniture and utensils of the Dwelling, enumerated in Num 4:5-14. The ‘service of the sons of Kohath’ is not stated till Num 4:15 b. Before they could perform their duty of carrying the sacred objects the priests must cover them up, that the Levites may neither touch ( Num 4:15) nor see them ( Num 4:20).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
About the most holy things – Omit about. The sense is, this is the charge of the sons of Kohath, the most holy things: i. e. the ark of the covenant, the table of showbread, the candlestick, and the golden altar, together with the furniture pertaining thereto. It appears, from a comparison of Num 4:16, Num 4:28, Num 4:33, that the ministry of the Kohathites was superintended by Eleazar, the older of the two surviving sons of Aaron; and that of the two other families by Ithamar.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Hereafter mentioned, as the ark, table, altar, &c. Compare Num 3:31.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
4-15. This shall be the service ofthe sons of Kohath, c.They are mentioned first, from theirclose connection with Aaron and the special department of dutyassigned to them during the journeyings of Israel accorded with thecharge 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 occasionsinto the holy place. This was an exception to the general rule, whichprohibited the entrance of any but the high priest. But when thecloud removed from the tabernacle, the sanctuary might be entered bythe common priests, as to them was reserved the exclusive privilegeof packing the sacred utensils; and it was not till the holy thingswere thus ready for carriage, that the Kohathites were allowed toapproach.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
This [shall be] the service of the sons of Kohath, in the tabernacle of the congregation,…. What follows, Nu 4:4;
[about] the most holy things; which Aben Ezra interprets only of the ark, which was indeed a most holy thing, and stood in the most holy place; but there were other holy things, in the care of which the service of the Kohathites lay; as the shewbread table, the candlestick, and the altars of incense and burnt offering, and the vail, and the ministering: vessels, which Jarchi reckons with it, as more holy than all other things.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
The service of the Kohathites at the tabernacle is (relates to) “ the most holy ” (see at Exo 30:10). This term includes, as is afterwards explained, the most holy things in the tabernacle, viz., the ark of the covenant, the table of shew-bread, the candlestick, the altar of incense and altar of burnt-offering, together with all the other things belonging to these. When the camp was broken up, the priests were to roll them up in wrappers, and hand them over in this state to the Kohathites, for them to carry (Num 4:5-15). First of all (Num 4:5, Num 4:6), Aaron and his sons were to take down the curtain between the holy place and the most holy (see Exo 26:31), and to cover the ark of testimony with it (Exo 25:10). Over this they were to place a wrapper of sea-cow skin ( tachash , see Exo 25:5), and over this again another covering of cloth made entirely of hyacinth-coloured purple (as in Exo 28:31). The sea-cow skin as to protect the inner curtain, which was covered over the ark, from storm and rain; the hyacinth purple, to distinguish the ark of the covenant as the throne of the glory of Jehovah. Lastly, they were to place the staves into the rings again, that is to say, the bearing poles, which were always left in their places on the ark (Exo 25:15), but had necessarily to be taken out while it was being covered and wrapped up.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
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, which afterwards vents itself in quarrels. If, therefore, this had not been prevented, the Levites would soon have made disturbances in their duty, and contentions would have taken place between them. God, then, comes forward, and by His own authority confines them all within their proper bounds, and restrains their foolish passions. That a more honorable office is assigned to the sons of Kohath than to the others, proceeds from God’s gratuitous favor; and thus all pride was suppressed, lest any should boast of his dexterity, or industry, or other gifts. The charge of the Holy of holies is, therefore, entrusted to the sons of Kohath; not that they should handle any part of it, but only that they should carry on the march its vessels, when packed by the priests; for God commands the sons of Aaron to come and take down the sanctuary, and carefully cover the veil, the altar, and other sacred vessels with their proper covers, before the sons of Kohath laid a finger upon them, that thus the reverence of the people for holy things might be increased; and besides, that when the other tribes should see even the Levites forbidden from touching the sanctuary, they might be reminded of their unworthiness and humbled the more. Moreover, all cause of envy was removed when the other Levites heard that a perilous duty was entrusted to the sons of Kohath, for God threatens them with death if they touch any forbidden thing: and lastly, admonishes the priests, the sons of Aaron, lest by their carelessness they should destroy their brethren; for, if they should leave anything uncovered, they would be the cause of their destruction.
(203) “ D’ s’avancer, ou ingerer :” to put themselves forward, or to interfere. — Fr.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
SERVICE OF THE SONS OF KOHATH, Num 4:4-20.
These have the post of honour, perhaps because Moses and Aaron pertained to this family. Seniority would have assigned this most responsible charge to the Gershonites.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
4. In the tabernacle Into the holy of holies, where God met the high priest, no other person was permitted to go. But it was the office of the Kohathites to transport and have the charge of the sacred furniture contained therein when wrapped up by Aaron and his sons.
The most holy things Hebrew, holiness of holiness, a form of Hebrew superlative. There is no need of the English preposition about. “The most holy things” are the grammatical appositive of tabernacle; the container is put for the contained, such as the ark of the covenant, the golden altar, the table of show-bread, and the candlestick. These were not to be touched, nor even seen, till wrapped up by the priests in the manner prescribed in the following verses. Eleazar, the elder of Aaron’s living sons, was charged with the preparation of these burdens of the Kohathites. See Num 4:16.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Was not this typical of Him of whom it is said, he should destroy the face of the covering cast over all people? Isa 25:7 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
most holy = the holiest. Hebrew holiness of holinesses. See note on Exo 3:5.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Num 4:15, Num 4:19, Num 4:24, Num 4:30, Num 3:30, Num 3:31, Mar 13:34
Reciprocal: Exo 39:32 – all the Num 7:9 – unto the Num 10:21 – the Kohathites 1Sa 6:19 – he smote 1Ch 13:2 – the priests Ezr 8:28 – the vessels