Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Numbers 3:25
And the charge of the sons of Gershon in the tabernacle of the congregation [shall be] the tabernacle, and the tent, the covering thereof, and the hanging for the door of the tabernacle of the congregation,
25. the tabernacle; the Tent; the covering ] Since the wooden framework is to be carried by the Merarites, these three expressions denote only the stuff hangings; cf. Num 4:25. An explanation of the terms is found in Exo 26:1-14. As an ordinary tent consists mainly of the covering, the wood-work being only an accessory to support it, so (1) the tabernacle (or rather dwelling) proper consisted of ten strips of linen worked in three colours with figures of cherubim, and joined by hooks and loops into one whole ( Num 3:1 ; Num 3:6 b). (2) The tent 1 [Note: The spelling of the word in the R.V. with a capital T is misleading.] consisted of eleven strips of goats’ hair, joined together in the same way, and covering the ‘dwelling’ ( Num 3:7 ; Num 3:11 b, 13 b). (3) The covering was of rams’ skins dyed red (probably tanned) and of the water-tight skin of some marine animal such as the porpoise or dugong ( Num 3:14).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The tabernacle; not the boards, which belonged to Merari, Num 3:36, but the ten curtains mentioned Exo 26:1.
The tent, to wit, the curtains of goats hair.
The covering thereof, i.e. the coverings of rams skins and badgers skins. See Num 4:25.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And the charge of the sons of Gershom,…. The Libnites and Shimites:
in the tabernacle of the congregation; or with respect to the things of it, when it was taken down and committed to them; for otherwise they had no place in it, nor might they enter into it, or do any service therein:
[shall be] the tabernacle and the tent; the former intends not the boards of it, which were the charge of the Merarites, Nu 3:36; but the curtains, as Aben Ezra, or the under curtains, as Jarchi calls them, which were made of fine twined linen, Ex 26:1; and the latter is to be understood of the eleven curtains, as Aben Ezra, the curtains of goats hair, which were made for the roof of the tabernacle, as Jarchi observes, see Ex 26:7;
the covering thereof: made of rams’ skins, and badgers’ skins, which were thrown over the tent, Ex 26:14;
and the hanging for the door of the tabernacle of the congregation; the vail, as Jarchi calls it; not what divided the holy and most holy places, for that fell to the charge of the Kohathites, Nu 3:31; but the vail or hanging which was at the door of the tent, or which led into the holy place, Ex 26:36.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(25) In the tabernacle of the congregation.Better, in the tent of meeting. It is important to distinguish between the oheli.e., the tentand the mishkani.e., the tabernaclewhich was the building of shittim wood with its curtains which was within the tent. The word ohel, where it occurs in the second place in this verse, evidently means the outer covering, as in Exo. 26:7, where the passage may be literally rendered thus :And thou shalt make curtains (or hangings) of goats (hair) for an ohel upon (or over) the mishkan.
The covering thereof.The mikseh (covering) appears to include the two coverings described in Exo. 26:14viz., the covering of rams skins and that of badgers skins or seals skins.
The hanging for the door of the tabernacle of the congregationi.e., for the entrance or opening of the tent of meeting. This hanging was of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine-twined linen, and was hung at the entrancei.e., the eastern or open end of the tent (Exo. 26:36). The word rendered door (pethach, not deleth) means an opening. At a later period, when the Tabernacle was at Shiloh, it had doors (1Sa. 3:15). Both words occur in 1Ki. 6:31 : And for the entering (or at the opening) of the oracle he made doors. &c.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
25. Tabernacle tent covering The tabernacle consisted of three chief parts, namely, the dwelling place, mishkan, or tabernacle strictly so called; the tent, ohel; and mikseh, the covering. The tabernacle itself was made of ten curtains of fine linen, ornamented with coloured cherubim resting upon a framework of boards, and was composed of the holy place and the most holy, corresponding to the adytum, , or innermost sanctuary of the temple at Jerusalem. The tent a goat’s hair fabric was to cover the tabernacle, while spread over the tent was the covering made of the red skins of rams, or tachash skins, as a protection from the weather. See note on Num 4:6. Much confusion arises from the fact that in English tent and tabernacle are synonyms, and mean about the same as covering.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
the. Some codices, with Samaritan Pentateuch, Targum of Onkelos, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read “and the”
door = entrance.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
the charge: From this and the next chapter, we see the very severe labour which the Levites were to perform, while the journeyings of the Israelites lasted. When we consider, that there was not less than 14 tons 266 lbs. of metal employed in the tabernacle – see note on Exo 38:24, besides the immense weight of the skins, hangings, cords, boards, and posts, we shall find it was no easy matter to transport this moveable temple from place to place. The Gershonites, who were 7,500 in number had to carry the tent, coverings, vail, hangings of the court, cords, etc. – Num 3:25, and Num 3:26, the Kohathites, who were 8,600, the ark, table, candlestick, altars, and instruments of the sanctuary – Num 3:31, and the Merarites, who were 6,200, the boards, bars, sockets, and all matters connected with these belonging to the tabernacle, with the pillars of the court, their sockets, pins, and cords – Num 3:36, and Num 3:37. Num 3:7, Num 4:24-28, Num 7:7, Num 10:17, 1Ch 9:14-33, 1Ch 23:32, 1Ch 26:21, 1Ch 26:22, 2Ch 31:2, 2Ch 31:11-18, Ezr 8:28-30, Mar 13:34, Rom 12:6-8, Col 4:17, 1Ti 1:18
the tabernacle and: Exo 25:9, Exo 26:1-14, Exo 36:8-19, Exo 40:19
and the hanging: Exo 26:36, Exo 26:37, Exo 36:37, Exo 36:38, Exo 40:28
Reciprocal: Exo 39:32 – all the Num 4:25 – the curtains Num 18:3 – only they Num 31:30 – keep the
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Num 3:25-26. The tabernacle Not the boards, which belonged to Merari, (Num 3:36,) but the ten curtains. The tent The curtains of goats hair. The coverings That is, the coverings of rams skins and badgers skins. The cords By which the tabernacle was fastened to the pins, and stretched out, Exo 35:18.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
3:25 And the charge of the sons of Gershon in the tabernacle of the congregation [shall be] the {i} tabernacle, and the tent, the covering thereof, and the hanging for the door of the tabernacle of the congregation,
(i) Their charge was to carry the covering and hangings of the tabernacle.