Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Numbers 4:5
And when the camp setteth forward, Aaron shall come, and his sons, and they shall take down the covering veil, and cover the ark of testimony with it:
5 14. When finally ready for the march the burden of the Kohathites would be seen simply as six large packages as follows. (i) The Ark ( Num 4:5 f.), covered with the ‘veil of the screen’ (see on Num 3:31), and a water-proof covering of dugong skin, and over this a violet cloth. It was carried by the staves, or poles, with which it was furnished for the purpose of transport (Exo 25:14). The Ark is the only piece of furniture that has a coloured cloth over the water-proof covering; this would make it a conspicuous object on the march, (ii) The Table of the Presence Bread ( Num 4:7 f., see note), covered with a violet cloth upon which all the utensils and the loaves are placed, and the whole covered with a scarlet cloth, and that with the dugong skin; like the Ark it was carried by poles, (iii) The Lampstand and all its utensils ( Num 4:9 f.), covered with violet cloth and dugong skin, and carried by means of a bar. (iv) The Golden Altar of Incense ( Num 4:11), covered with violet cloth and dugong skin and carried by its poles. (v) The miscellaneous utensils ( Num 4:12) not actually belonging to any piece of furniture, covered with violet cloth and dugong skin and carried by means of a bar. (vi) The Altar of Burnt-offering ( Num 4:13 f.), covered with a crimson cloth upon which all the utensils belonging to it are placed, and the whole covered with dugong skin and carried by its poles.
The reason for the additional scarlet cloth over the Table is unknown. The use of cloth of a different colour in the case of the Altar of Burnt-offering may have been because the Altar belonged to a lower grade of sanctity since it stood outside the Dwelling. For a description of the various articles see notes on Exo 25:1-40; Exo 27:1-8; Exo 30:1-5.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
For upon this necessary occasion the inferior priests are allowed to come into the holy of holies, which otherwise was peculiar to the high priest, Heb 9:7.
The covering veil; the second veil; of which see Exo 26:31, &c. Lev 4:6; Heb 9:3; where, with the ark was covered while the tabernacle stood, Exo 40:3. And
cover the ark; because the Levites, who were to carry the ark, might neither see nor immediately touch it.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
5. covering veilthe innerveil, which separated the holy from the most holy place. (See on Ex36:35).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And when the camp setteth forward,…. Upon the cloud’s removing and the trumpets blowing:
Aaron shall come, and his sons; into the holy place:
and they shall take down the covering vail: the vail that divided between the holy and the most holy place, which covered all in the holy of holies out of sight:
and cover the ark of testimony with it; together with the mercy seat and cherubim on it, that they might not be seen nor touched by the Levites when they carried them. Now though the high priest himself might not go into the most holy place but once a year, on the day of atonement, yet on this occasion, when the tabernacle was to be taken down, and the things in it to be removed, both he and his sons might enter without danger; since, as Bishop Patrick observes, the divine Majesty was gone from thence in the cloud which gave the signal for the motion of the camp, and the taking down of the tabernacle.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Verses 5, 6:
The duty of the sons of Aaron included preparing the Tabernacle furniture for moving. First, they were to take down the “covering veil,” the partition veil which separated the Holy of Holies from the holy place. They were to use this veil as a covering for the Ark of the Covenant. Over this they were to place a blue cloth, and a covering of “badgers’ skins,” see Ex 25:5; 26:14; 35:7, 23; 36:19, 34. Then they were to insert the staves in the rings which were a part of the Ark, and thus it was ready for transporting.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(5) Aaron shall come, and his sons . . . Under ordinary circumstances the high priest himself might only enter the most holy place on one day in the year. At the time of the moving of the camp, however, the Divine Presence seems to have departed from the Holy of Holies, and to have ascended in the cloud which gave the signal for the removal.
The covering vail.Better, the vail of the hanging or curtainviz., that which separated the Holy of Holies from the Holy Place. (Comp. Num. 3:31.)
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
5. The covering vail That which separated the holy from the most holy place. It was this vail that was rent at the crucifixion of Christ. In Heb 9:3, it is called the second vail. The temple vail was very heavy, and made of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Num 4:5 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:
Ver. 5. And when the camp setteth forward. ] Which was not till the cloud was taken up from off the tabernacle, by the Lord, Num 10:11-12 who went before them. Semper memento illud Pythagoricum, E , a Let God lead us, and we cannot miscarry.
a Boetius.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
And. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton (App-6), here and in following verses, to emphasize each particular in verses: Num 4:5-15.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
And when: Num 2:16, Num 2:17, Num 10:14
Aaron shall come: The law prohibiting any person, except the high priest on one day in the year, to enter into the most holy place, must have admitted an exception while the Israelites were in the wilderness: that exception, therefore, is here expressly made; and the directions given respecting it must be religiously observed, or the service could not be safely performed. While the cloud rested on the tabernacle, the general rule was in force; but when it was removed, then the priests might enter to prepare the sacred vessels for removal. Num 4:15, Num 3:27-32
they shall: Exo 26:31-33, Exo 36:35, Exo 40:3, Isa 25:7, Mat 27:51, Heb 9:3, Heb 10:20
and cover: Exo 25:10-22, Exo 37:1-9, 2Sa 6:2-9
Reciprocal: Exo 26:14 – a covering Exo 31:10 – General Exo 35:19 – The cloths Num 1:51 – the Levites 1Sa 4:4 – with the ark 1Sa 6:19 – he smote 2Sa 6:3 – set 1Ch 23:26 – carry Rev 11:19 – the ark
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Num 4:5-6. They shall take down For upon this necessary occasion the inferior priests were allowed to come into the holy of holies, which otherwise was peculiar to the high-priest. The covering veil The second veil, wherewith the ark was covered while the tabernacle stood, Exo 40:3. Cover the ark Because the Levites, who were to carry the ark, might neither see, nor immediately touch it. Badgers skins Whereby the ark was secured from the injuries of the weather.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
4:5 And when the camp setteth forward, Aaron shall come, and his sons, and they shall take down the {b} covering vail, and cover the ark of testimony with it:
(b) Which divided the sanctuary from the holiest of holies.