Commentari biblici

Numbers 4:3. From thirty — This age was prescribed, as the age of full strength of body, and therefore most proper for their laborious work of carrying the parts and vessels of the tabernacle, and of maturity of judgment, which is necessary for the right management of holy services. Whence even John and Christ entered not upon their ministry till that age. Indeed, their first entrance upon their work was at their twenty-fifth year, when they began as learners, and acted under the inspection and direction of their brethren; but in their thirtieth year they were completely admitted to a full discharge of their whole office. But David, being a prophet, and particularly directed by God in the affairs of the temple, made a change in this matter, because the magnificence of the temple, and the great multitude of the sacred utensils and sacrifices, required a greater number of attendants than formerly was necessary. Until fifty — When they were exempted from the toilsome work of carrying burdens, but not discharged from the honourable and easy work done within the tabernacle. Numbers 8:26. All that enter — That is, that do and may enter, having no defect, nor other impediment.

Numbers 4:5-6. They shall take down — For upon this necessary occasion the inferior priests were allowed to come into the holy of holies, which otherwise was peculiar to the high-priest. The covering veil — The second veil, wherewith the ark was covered while the tabernacle stood, Exodus 40:3. Cover the ark — Because the Levites, who were to carry the ark, might neither see, nor immediately touch it. Badgers’ skins — Whereby the ark was secured from the injuries of the weather.

Numbers 4:7. The dishes — Upon which the show-bread was put. Continual bread — So called because it was continually to be there, even in the wilderness; where, though they had only manna for themselves, yet they reserved corn for the weekly making of these loaves.

Numbers 4:11-12. The golden altar — All covered with plates of gold. The instruments of ministry — The sacred garments used by the priests in their holy ministrations. Cover them — All these coverings were designed, 1st, For safety, that these holy things might not be sullied by rain, or tarnished by the sun. 2d, For decency, most of them had a cloth of blue, or purple, or scarlet over them; the ark, a cloth wholly of blue, perhaps an emblem of the azure skies, which are spread between us and the Majesty on high. 3d, For concealment. It was a fit sign of the darkness of that dispensation. The holy things were then covered. But Christ hath now destroyed the face of the covering.

Numbers 4:13. Shall take away the ashes from the altar — Hence we may conclude, that they did offer sacrifices at other times, though not so constantly and diligently as they did in Canaan. Moreover the taking away of the ashes only doth sufficiently imply that the fire was preserved, which, as it came down from heaven, (Leviticus 9.,) so it was by God’s command to be continually fed and kept burning, and therefore doubtless was put into some vessel, which might be either fastened to the altar, and put within this covering, or carried by some person appointed thereunto.

Numbers 4:15. Bear it — Upon their shoulders. Afterward the priests themselves, being multiplied, carried these things, though the Levites were not excluded. They shall not touch — Before they are covered.

Numbers 4:16. Eleazar — He himself is to carry these things, and not to commit them to the sons of Kohath. The oversight — The care that all the things above mentioned be carried by the persons and in the manner expressed.

Numbers 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.