Chapter commentary
Numbers Chapter 4
4
Numbers 4:4
简体中文
English original
About the most holy things - Omit "about." The sense is, "this is the charge of the sons of Kohath, the most holy things:" i. e. the ark of the covenant, the table of showbread, the candlestick, and the golden altar, together with the furniture pertaining thereto. It appears, from a comparison of Numbers 4:16, Numbers 4:28, Numbers 4:33, that the ministry of the Kohathites was superintended by Eleazar, the older of the two surviving sons of Aaron; and that of the two other families by Ithamar.
6
Numbers 4:6
简体中文
“全用蓝色”——参 Exodus 25:4 注释。只有约柜的第三层即最外层的遮盖要使用这种颜色。陈设饼的桌子按 Numbers 4:8 有朱红色的外层包裹；祭坛按 Numbers 4:13 则有紫色的包裹。
“把杠穿上”——或许应作“把杠整理妥当”。这些杠从不从抬约柜用的金环中抽出（见 Exodus 25:14-15），但仍需要加以调整。
English original
wholly of blue - Compare Exodus 25:4 note. The third and external covering of the ark only was to be of this color. The table of showbread had Numbers 4:8 an outer wrapping of scarlet; the altar Numbers 4:13 one of purple.
Put in the staves - Probably, "put the staves in order." These were never taken out of the golden rings by which the ark was to be borne (see Exodus 25:14-15), but would need adjustment.
20
Numbers 4:20
简体中文
“圣物遮盖的时候进去观看”——宜译作：“片时观看圣物”。这表达按字面意思是“如同一口”，即指吞咽一口东西所费的那一瞬。
English original
to see when the holy things are covered - Render: to see the holy things for an instant. The expression means Iiterally" as a gulp," i. e. for the instant it takes to swallow.
23
Numbers 4:23
简体中文
“前来任职”——按字面，如旁注所示，是“打那战争”；这短语的一部分在 Numbers 4:3 中则译作“进入军中办事”。这是军事性的用语：事奉神乃是一场圣战（参 Numbers 8:24-25 的旁注读法）。
English original
enter in to perform the service - literally, as in the margin, "to war the warfare," or, as the same phrase in part is rendered, Numbers 4:3, "enter into the host to do the work." The language is military. The service of God is a sacred warfare (Numbers 8:24-25 marginal reading).
28
Numbers 4:28
简体中文
革顺的子孙和米拉利的子孙由亚伦的小儿子以他玛监督管理；他先前在帐幕建造过程中已曾负责监督那项工程（Exodus 38:21）。以色列会众领袖们的常设职分，正是这样自然而然地从他们在出埃及第一年的紧急状况下、屡次受命承担的职务中衍生出来的。
English original
The Gershonites and Merarites are superintended by Ithamar, Aaron's younger son, who had already had the oversight of the tabernacle in its construction Exodus 38:21. Thus, readily do the permanent offices of the leaders of the Israelite community spring out of the duties which, under the emergencies of the first year of the Exodus, they had been led, from time to time, to undertake.
32
Numbers 4:32
简体中文
“都要按名指定”——或作：将这些器具一一“按名”分派给各自的抬运者。这些“器具”包括帐幕中较重的部件；这道命令的目的，看来是要防止米拉利子孙个人自行挑选自己的担子，从而把多于应负的份额加在别人身上。
English original
By name ye shall reckon the instruments - Or, assign them to their bearers singly, and "by name." These "instruments" comprised the heavier parts of the tabernacle; and the order seems intended to prevent individual Merarites choosing their own burden, and so throwing more than the proper share on others.
“关于至圣之物”——“关于”一词应予省略。其意是：“这是哥辖子孙的职任，即至圣之物”；也就是约柜、陈设饼的桌子、灯台和金香坛，以及附属于这些物件的器具。比较 Numbers 4:16、Numbers 4:28、Numbers 4:33 可以看出：哥辖子孙的事奉由亚伦两个在世之子中的长者以利亚撒督管，而其余两族的事奉则由以他玛督管。