Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Numbers 10:21
And the Kohathites set forward, bearing the sanctuary: and [the other] did set up the tabernacle against they came.
21. the sanctuary ] But the sacred structure is already in the hands of the Gershonites and Merarites. The required meaning is the holy things, and desh is probably the true reading, as in Num 4:15 (see note there).
the other did set up ] Heb. has loosely ‘and they [used to] set up,’ which is equivalent to the passive verb ‘and the Tabernacle used to be set up,’ i.e. by the other Levites.
29 33 J . This earlier account of the departure from Sinai relates that Moses asked obab to be their guide, because he would be well acquainted with the places of encampment en route.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The other, i.e. the Gershonites and Merarites, as is evident both from their work and office, which was to take down and set up the tabernacle, Num 3:25,26; 4:22-33; and from Num 10:17, who therefore marched after the first camp, a good distance kern and before the Kohathites, that they might prepare the tabernacle for the reception of its utensils, which the Kohathites brought some time after them.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And the Kohathites set forward,…. After the standard of the camps of Reuben, and between that and the standard of the camp of Ephraim, to, which there is an allusion in Ps 80:2;
bearing the sanctuary, or the holy things, as Jarchi; the ark, as Aben Ezra; though not that only, which indeed might be eminently called so, it standing in the most holy place, over which were the mercy seat and cherubim, the residence of the divine Majesty; but all the holy things in the holy place, the candlestick, shewbread table, and the two altars, the altar of incense in the holy place, and the altar of burnt offerings in the court these they bore on their shoulders, and had no wagons allowed for their assistance:
and [the other] did set up the tabernacle against they came; that is, the sons of Gershon and Merari, who went before between the standard of Judah and the standard of Reuben, carrying the heavier and more cumbersome parts of the tabernacle; which, when Judah pitched their tents, at the signal of the cloud, they immediately put together, and erected, and got it ready, by such time as the Kohathites came up to them, that so the ark and other holy things might be at once put into it, and set in their proper places.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
The Levites Who Bore the Holy Things ( Num 10:21 )
Num 10:21
‘And the Kohathites set forward, bearing the holy things, and the others set up the tabernacle in readiness for their coming.’
Next came the remainder of the Korathites bearing all ‘the holy things’ apart from the Ark which led the march (Num 10:35-36). By the time they arrived at the next camp the Dwellingplace would have been erected by the other Levites. The holy things were the furniture of the Dwellingplace, apart from the Ark which led the way in its magnificent blue covering. These were the altar of incense, the table of showbread, the golden lampstand and the brazen altar, all discreetly hidden and weather-protected beneath dolphin skins.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Num 10:21. And the other did set up the tabernacle The other is not in the text: Calmet explains it, “that the Kohathites set up the tabernacle against they, i.e. the priests, arrived.” Houbigant renders it, and the Kohathites set forward, bearing the sacred things, and the tabernacle was erected while they came. The two families, says he, of the Levites, Gershon and Merari, march after the tribe of Judah; that, the front of the army standing still, and pitching their tents, they might erect, without any delay, the tabernacle, when it was to be erected: that so the Kohathites might find it prepared to receive the holy vessels, when they came after the second part of the army: and this is taken notice of in the first march of the Israelites, as it was to be the rule of all the rest.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
the other: i.e. the Gershonites and Merarites. See Num 10:17.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
the Kohathites: Num 2:17, Num 3:27-32, Num 4:4-16, Num 7:9, 1Ch 15:2, 1Ch 15:12-15
the other did: that is, the Gershonites and the Merarites, Num 10:17, Num 1:51
Reciprocal: Exo 26:30 – rear up the tabernacle Num 1:50 – shall encamp Num 3:8 – General Num 4:15 – after that 1Ch 23:24 – the sons of Levi
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Num 10:21. The others The Gershonites and Merarites, who therefore marched after the first camp, a good distance from, and before the Kohathites, that they might prepare the tabernacle for the reception of its utensils, which the Kohathites brought some time after them.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
10:21 And the Kohathites set forward, {h} bearing the sanctuary: and {i} [the other] did set up the tabernacle against they came.
(h) Upon their shoulders.
(i) The Merarites and Gershonites.