Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Numbers 4:7
And upon the table of shewbread they shall spread a cloth of blue, and put thereon the dishes, and the spoons, and the bowls, and covers to cover withal: and the continual bread shall be thereon:
7. shewbread ] Presence-bread, i.e. bread that is placed in the divine Presence. 1Sa 21:6 is evidence that the practice was observed in early times. It was probably a relic of the primitive heathen notion that gods actually partook of bread that was offered to them.
the continual bread ] The expression is not found elsewhere. Cf. ‘continual meal-offering’ ( Num 4:16, Neh 10:33 only), ‘continual [R.V. perpetual] incense’ (Exo 30:8 (P )), and frequently ‘continual burnt-offering’ (Numbers 28, 29). It connotes the regularity with which a ritual act is performed at stated intervals.
The bread also came to be known as pile bread (R.V. ‘shewbread,’ 1Ch 9:32; 1Ch 23:29, Neh 10:33) owing to the arrangement of the loaves in two piles (Lev 24:6, R.V. marg.). And since the root of the word (‘pile’) denotes to ‘set out’ or ‘arrange’ [a meal], the name appears in the N.T. as (lit. ‘bread of the setting out,’ Mat 12:4, Mar 2:26, Luk 6:4) and (lit. ‘the setting out of the loaves,’ Heb 9:2).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Of shew-bread, Heb. of faces or presence, for of the bread of faces or presence, i.e. of the bread which was continually standing in the presence of the Lord.
The dishes, upon which the shew-bread was put.
The continual bread, i.e. shew-bread; so called because it was continually to be there, even in the wilderness; where though they had only manna for themselves, yet they reserved corn for the weekly making of these loaves, which they might with no great difficulty procure from some of the people bordering upon the wilderness in the innermost parts whereof they were.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
7. continual showbreadThoughthe people were in the wilderness fed upon manna, the sacred loaveswere constantly made of corn, which was probably raised in smallquantities from the verdant patches of the desert.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And upon the table of shewbread they shall spread a cloth of blue,…. That that also might not be seen nor touched by the Levites:
and put thereon the dishes, and the spoons, and the bowls, and the covers to cover withal: all which belonged to the shewbread table; the use of which, [See comments on Ex 25:29]; these seem to be put not immediately upon the table, but upon the blue cloth spread over the table:
and the continual bread shall be thereon: the shewbread is called “continual”, because it was always on the table; for while the one was removing by a set of priests, which had stood a week, new loaves were placed by another set of priests: this bread seems at this time to be placed also upon the table, spread with the blue cloth; and from hence it appears, that the Israelites had the shewbread in the wilderness; for the making of which they might be supplied with corn from the neighbouring countries, though they themselves needed not any, being daily fed with manna.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Over the table of shew-bread (Exo 25:23) they were to spread a hyacinth cloth, to place the plates, bowls, wine-pitchers, and drink-offering bowls (Exo 25:29) upon the top of this, and to lay shew-bread thereon; and then to spread a crimson cloth over these vessels and the shew-bread, and cover this with a sea-cow skin, and lastly to put the bearing poles in their places.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
Verses 7, 8:
Next, the sons of Aaron were to prepare the golden Table of Shewbread (Table of Presence) for transporting. They were to cover this table with a cloth of blue. Then they were to place the utensils upon this cloth, along with the prescribed loaves of bread. This was to be covered with a scarlet cloth, and then all was to be covered with a covering of badger’s skins. The staves were to be inserted in the rings prepared for this purpose, and the table was ready for transporting.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(7) And covers to cover withal.Better, and the cups for the drink-offering (or libation).
And the continual bread.The shew-bread is so called because it was renewed every Sabbath day, and was continually before the face of the Lord even (as it appears from this verse) during the marches of the Israelites through the desert (Exo. 25:30; Lev. 24:5).
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
7, 9. The table of show-bread This is minutely described in Exo 25:23-30. The literal Hebrew here is show table, or, more exactly, table of faces or face, referring to the presence of Jehovah, not of the people, for they were not permitted to see it. It sets forth in a sensible manner the great truth that the unseen Jesus is the bread of life for the believing soul. It, with all its furniture, and the continual bread, was to be prepared for removal. The bread was called “continual” or perpetual, because loaves were always to be on the table, the new always taking the place of the old. The table was to be spread with a cloth of blue, or purple blue, and then, after all the furniture and show-bread were put upon it, was to be covered with a scarlet cloth. Could we authoritatively interpret the significance of this colour, as some assume to do, we should not hesitate to enlighten the reader. In this case the coloured cloth is not for ornament, since it is covered with the tachash skin. The same may be said of the golden candlestick, and all the utensils appertaining to it. This was the symbol of that illumination which is afforded by the Holy Spirit, dispelling doubts, and giving to the believer a sense of the reality of spiritual truth. Hence the Holy Ghost is called by Jesus the Spirit of Truth, or the Spirit of Reality, because he makes real to our spiritual intuition the truth which is dark to our reason.
Snuffdishes The same word is elsewhere rendered censer.
Lev 10:1; Num 16:6. The one was used for trimming the lamps, and the other for carrying live coals for the purpose of burning incense.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
table of shewbread. See Exo 25:30 and Lev 24:6.
dishes. In chApp-4rendered “charger” throughout.
spoons = dishes.
bowls = pans.
covers = bowls.
to cover = to pour. continual. Compare Lev 24:8.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
shewbread
(See Scofield “Exo 25:30”).
Fuente: Scofield Reference Bible Notes
the table: Exo 25:23-30, Exo 37:10-16, Lev 24:5-8
cover withal: or, pour out withal
the continual: The Israelites, without doubt, were able to procure corn enough from the adjacent countries, even when in the wilderness, to make the shewbread, and to present the daily meat offerings.
Reciprocal: Exo 25:29 – the Exo 25:30 – General Lev 24:8 – General Num 4:6 – a cloth Num 4:8 – General Num 4:12 – General Num 7:14 – spoon Jer 52:18 – bowls Hos 9:4 – their bread Zec 14:20 – the bowls
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Num 4:7. The dishes Upon which the show-bread was put. Continual bread So called because it was continually to be there, even in the wilderness; where, though they had only manna for themselves, yet they reserved corn for the weekly making of these loaves.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
4:7 And upon the table of shewbread they shall spread a cloth of blue, and put thereon the dishes, and the spoons, and the bowls, and covers to cover {d} withal: and the continual bread shall be thereon:
(d) Meaning, to cover the bread.