Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Numbers 4:18
Cut ye not off the tribe of the families of the Kohathites from among the Levites:
i.e. Do not by your neglect provoke God to cut them off for touching the holy things.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Cut ye not off the tribe of the families of the Kohathites from among the Levites. Or give no occasion, as the Targum of Jonathan; or be not the cause of their cutting off, as Jarchi, through negligence or inadvertency of theirs, in packing up the above things, and delivering them to them.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(18) Cut ye not off the tribe . . . The word shebet (tribe) is here used in a very peculiar sense, and denotes one division only of the tribe of Levi. In this and the following verses the injunction already given (Num. 5:15) is renewed, and Moses and Aaron are charged not to be guilty of such negligence in respect of it as might expose the Kohathites to death in consequence of their unlawful treatment of the holy things. Moses and Aaron might be said to do that which would be the result of their negligence. In like manner St. Paul enjoins the Roman Christians in these words: Destroy not him with thy meat for whom Christ died (Rom. 14:15).
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
18. Cut ye not off the Kohathites Hebrews, Cause ye not to cut off, etc. This admonition signifies that the priests charged with the duty of enveloping the sacred furniture should not be the occasion of the death of any Levite through their inattention to the commandment to cover the holy things from the sight or touch of the bearers. If it is objected that it is unreasonable to suppose that the just God would cut off one through another’s carelessness in handling sacred things, we would call attention to that very constitution and course of nature in which we daily move. We are every day exposed to sudden death through the absent-mindedness of the apothecary, the thoughtlessness of the switch-tender, the sleepiness of the engineer, or the unskilfulness of the pilot. God does not miraculously interpose to prevent the evil results of inadvertence in dealing with physical forces. We should expect the same to be true when we enter the realm of spiritual powers. The death-stroke that flashed from the Shekinah upon some curious Levite who approached unwarned the uncovered ark of the covenant might have been as natural as the death-shock from an accidental contact with an unguarded electrical battery. For aught that we know it would require a miracle to prevent a fatal result of carelessness in the first case as much as in the second. What a lesson is here taught to all Christians, especially to all ministers of the Gospel, not to withhold from the wicked the proclamation of the terrors of the Lord God, who is a consuming fire. “Those who do not what they can to keep others from sin, do what they can to cut them off.” This remark of the sententious Henry is based on the word of God. Pro 24:11-12; Eze 33:6.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Num 4:18. Cut ye not off the tribe, &c. The meaning of this, as explained in the following verses, is, “Do not, by omitting to instruct the Kohathites what they are to do in the service to which they are appointed, occasion them to be cut off and to perish by a neglectful and irreverent performance of their ministry.”
REFLECTIONS.Since no Levite was capable of ministering till twenty-five or thirty years of age, nor longer than fifty, a new review is made to select these from their brethren. Ministers have need of much wisdom and solidity: youthful novices, it is to be feared, will discredit their holy calling. They are to enter the host, and do the work of the tabernacle: the ministry is not a calling of ease, but labour; they who take it upon them, need approve themselves hardy and good soldiers of Jesus Christ. As in all our removes we must take God and his worship with us, charge is given about the tabernacle; the carriage of the noblest part of it is committed to the sons of Kohath. Aaron and his sons must take down and cover all the holy things; the Levites may not touch nor see them: this dispensation was dark, a vail covered it, which vail is done away in Christ. Eleazar must take care both of their burdens and persons, lest by transgressing they should be cut off. The charge of men’s lives is great; but how much greater the charge of immortal souls! Ithamar had the charge of the other families; Gershon took care of the drapery, and Merari of the more heavy carriage of the tabernacle. Every pin must be produced, and nothing be lost. Note; (1.) Every tittle of God’s word is precious, and to be preserved with sacred reverence. (2.) When this earthly tabernacle of our bodies shall be dissolved, as our souls under the conduct of the divine Eleazar go before, our bodies shall follow, and on the Resurrection-day a glorious tabernacle be raised up again, which never more shall be taken down or removed.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
The service of the Kohathites is striking. They were to carry the holy things of the tabernacle. It was dangerous to go into the holy place, for GOD had commanded that this should he done only once in a year, and that by the high priest with burning incense: thereby typifying our glorious High Priest entering in once into the holy place not made with hands, there to appear in the presence of GOD for us. But as the church now was in the wilderness, and the ark of GOD dwelt between curtains, it was necessary when at any time that Israel moved from place to place, that the ark should be moved also. And therefore no doubt provision was made that the Kohathites should minister in this removal and be exposed to no danger. Reader! think with what holy solemnity all that now minister in holy things should be engaged in the service. Oh! precious JESUS! how sweet is it to consider, that by thee and in thee, thy people whom thou hast made kings and priests to the FATHER, may minister in the sacred service of thy church.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Num 4:18 Cut ye not off the tribe of the families of the Kohathites from among the Levites:
Ver. 18. Cut ye not off, ] i.e., Cause them not, by your default, to be cut off. Heed must be taken, that we neither give offence carelessly, nor take offence causelessly.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Eleazar and the priests would be chargeable with the death of the Kohathites, if they failed to give them proper cautions and directions; or permitted them to gaze with irreverence or curiosity upon the holy things, which they might carry, but not see – Num 4:20. Num 16:32, Num 17:10, Num 18:5, Exo 19:21, Lev 10:1, Lev 10:2, 1Sa 6:19, 2Sa 6:6, 2Sa 6:7, Jer 38:23
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Num 4:18-19. Cut not off Do not by your neglect, provoke God to cut them off for touching the holy things. Every one to his service To that which is peculiarly allotted to him, the services and burdens being equally distributed among them.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
4:18 {l} Cut ye not off the tribe of the families of the Kohathites from among the Levites:
(l) Committing by your negligence that the holy things are not well wrapped, causing them to perish by touching it.