Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Numbers 1:50
But thou shalt appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of testimony, and over all the vessels thereof, and over all things that [belong] to it: they shall bear the tabernacle, and all the vessels thereof; and they shall minister unto it, and shall encamp round about the tabernacle.
50. the tabernacle of the testimony ] Better the dwelling, &c. The Heb. mishkn, denoting the place where Jehovah’s presence dwelt among His people, is used in the Hexateuch by P only. The rendering ‘tabernacle’ confuses it with ’hel ‘tent.’ See note on Num 1:1.
The ‘testimony’ or ‘witness’ refers to the stone tablets of the decalogue, which were placed in the ark and were a testimony or witness to the ethical character of Israel’s God and the ethical character which He desired to see in His people. Similar expressions are ‘the ark of the testimony’ (Exo 25:22), the ‘tablets of the testimony’ (Exo 31:18), the ‘veil of the testimony’ (Lev 24:3). On the significance of the various names of the Tabernacle see the writer’s Exodus, p. lxxxvii.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The tabernacle of testimony; so called here, and Exo 38:21 because it was made chiefly for the sake of the ark of the testimony, 2Sa 7:2, which is oft called the testimony, as hath been observed before.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
But thou shalt appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of testimony,…. So called from the ark in it, in which was the law of God, which was a testimony of the will of God to his people:
and over all the vessels thereof; the candlestick, table: and altars, as Aben Ezra notes:
and over all things that [belong] to it; the vessels of vessels, as the same writer calls them; for the candlestick, shewbread table, and the two altars of incense and burnt offering had vessels appertaining to them:
they shall bear the tabernacle, and all the vessels thereof; carry them from place to place when needful:
and they shall minister unto it; by taking care of the instruments of it and the vessels in it, but not by doing any part of the priestly office in it, as offering sacrifice, burning incense, and the like:
and shall encamp round about the tabernacle; they were a sort of camp or army of themselves, and their station was around the tabernacle, which was a kind of royal palace to God the King of kings; so that as they were the king’s legion, and to be numbered alone, as Jarchi observes, in Nu 1:49, so they were a guard about his palace, and were placed between that and the camp of Israel.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(50) The tabernacle of testimony.The testimony (sometimes described as the two tables of the testimony (Exo. 31:18; Exo. 34:29) denotes in the first instance the tables of the law which were directed to be placed in the ark (Exo. 25:16; Exo. 25:21). Hence the ark is described as the ark of the testimony (Exo. 25:22; Exo. 26:33), and the tabernacle as the tabernacle of the testimony (Exo. 38:21), and the tent, including the outer covering of the mishkan, or wooden building, is called the tent of the testimony (Num. 9:15). Also the veil which separated the holy place from the most holy is called the veil of the testimony (Lev. 24:3).
And shall encamp round about the tabernacle.The tent of meeting was like a royal palace, and the Levites served as a guard of honour round about it, to protect it from every sort of desecration.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
50. Tabernacle of testimony In the Hebrew these words are not the same as in the first verse. They should have been translated the dwelling, or abode of the Law. See the Hebrew of Exo 38:21. The tables of the Law the two tables of stone were kept in the tabernacle. Exo 31:18.
They shall bear the tabernacle In this service each of the three Levitical families had its separate department. The Gershonites carried the hangings and cords. They were allowed two wagons and four oxen to each. The Kohathites carried on their shoulders the ark, table of show-bread, candlestick, two altars, and hangings of the holy of holies. The Merarites transported the frameboards, pillars, bars, etc., with the aid of four wagons and eight oxen.
And shall encamp round about the tabernacle The Gershonites on the west, the Kohathites on the south, the Merarites on the north, and the priests on the east or front. See Num 3:23-38. They were allowed to take no part in the services of the altar. Num 18:2-7.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
tabernacle = habitation. Hebrew. mishkan. See App-40.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
thou shalt: Num 3:1-10, Num 4:15, Num 4:25-33, Exo 31:18, Exo 32:26-29, Exo 38:21, 1Ch 23:1-32, 1Ch 25:1 – 1Ch 26:32, Ezr 8:25-30, Ezr 8:33, Ezr 8:34, Neh 12:8, Neh 12:22, Neh 12:47, Neh 13:5, Neh 13:10-13, Neh 13:22
the tabernacle: Num 1:53, Num 20:11, Exo 31:18, Exo 38:21, Psa 122:4
shall encamp: Num 2:17, Num 3:23-38, Num 10:21
Reciprocal: Exo 16:34 – General Exo 37:5 – General Exo 40:33 – up the court Num 1:47 – General Num 2:2 – about the Num 3:7 – to do the 2Ch 24:6 – tabernacle Act 7:44 – the tabernacle Rev 15:5 – General
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Num 1:50-51. The tabernacle of testimony So called here, and Exo 38:21, because it was made chiefly for the sake of the ark of the testimony, which is often called the testimony. The stranger elsewhere is one of another nation, here one of another tribe. That cometh nigh So as to do the offices mentioned Num 1:50.