Numbers 10:21 kjv
And the Kohathites set forward, bearing the sanctuary: and the other did set up the tabernacle against they came.
Numbers 10:21 nkjv
Then the Kohathites set out, carrying the holy things. (The tabernacle would be prepared for their arrival.)
Numbers 10:21 niv
Then the Kohathites set out, carrying the holy things. The tabernacle was to be set up before they arrived.
Numbers 10:21 esv
Then the Kohathites set out, carrying the holy things, and the tabernacle was set up before their arrival.
Numbers 10:21 nlt
Next came the Kohathite division of the Levites, carrying the sacred objects from the Tabernacle. Before they arrived at the next camp, the Tabernacle would already be set up at its new location.
Numbers 10 21 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 25:8 | "Let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them." | God's desire to dwell with His people. |
| Exod 40:36-38 | "Whenever the cloud lifted from over the tabernacle...the sons of Israel would set out." | God's guidance dictating movement. |
| Num 1:50-51 | "...the Levites...are to take down the tabernacle...then set it up." | Levites responsible for Tabernacle transport. |
| Num 2:17 | "Then the tabernacle of meeting shall set out with the camp of the Levites in the midst of the camps." | The Tabernacle's central position in the march. |
| Num 3:30-31 | "The chief of the fathers... of the families of Kohath was Elizaphan...their duty was the care of the ark, the table..." | Explicit mention of Kohathite duties. |
| Num 4:4-15 | Detailed instructions for Kohathites handling holy items. | Prescribed sanctity and careful handling. |
| Num 7:9 | "But to the sons of Kohath he gave none, because the service of the holy things belonged to them..." | No wagons for holy objects; carried by shoulder. |
| Deut 10:8 | "At that time the Lord set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark..." | Levi's specific calling for sacred duty. |
| Josh 3:3 | "When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the Levitical priests carrying it..." | Ark central to subsequent movements (crossing Jordan). |
| 2 Sam 6:6-7 | Uzzah touches the Ark and dies. | Strict warnings against improper handling. |
| Psa 68:7 | "O God, when you went forth before your people, when you marched through the wilderness..." | God's active leading of Israel. |
| Isa 52:11 | "Depart, depart, go out from there...You who carry the vessels of the LORD, purify yourselves." | Call for holiness among those serving God. |
| Jn 1:14 | "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us..." | Christ as the ultimate Tabernacle/dwelling. |
| Acts 7:44 | "Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, just as God directed Moses..." | Affirmation of the Tabernacle's divine origin. |
| 1 Cor 6:19-20 | "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit..." | Believers as spiritual temples of God. |
| 1 Cor 14:33 | "For God is not a God of confusion but of peace..." | Orderly worship and procedures are God's nature. |
| 1 Cor 14:40 | "But all things should be done decently and in order." | Principle of order in Christian practice. |
| Heb 8:1-2 | "We have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, a minister in the holy places..." | Christ as the minister in the true Tabernacle. |
| Heb 9:1-5 | Description of the Tabernacle's furnishings. | Explains the holy items carried by Kohathites. |
| Heb 9:11-12 | "But when Christ appeared as a high priest...not through the blood of goats...but through his own blood..." | Christ's sacrifice in the heavenly sanctuary. |
| Rev 21:3 | "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them..." | Ultimate fulfillment: God dwelling eternally with His people. |
Numbers 10 verses
Numbers 10 21 Meaning
Numbers 10:21 describes the next phase of the Israelites' march after the initial vanguard. It states that the Kohathites, a Levitical family, then departed, bearing the most sacred objects of the Tabernacle, such as the Ark of the Covenant, the table of showbread, the menorah, and the altars. Their critical task was to carry these holy vessels by shoulder pole so that the Tabernacle, already disassembled by the Gershonites and Merarites who carried its structural components, could be promptly re-erected upon arrival at a new encampment site. This positioning ensured the divine presence and the apparatus for worship would be established quickly for the continuing spiritual life of the camp.
Numbers 10 21 Context
Numbers 10 marks a pivotal moment: the Israelites' departure from Mount Sinai, where they had camped for nearly a year and received the Law and the Tabernacle's blueprints. The chapter begins with the signal to move, then details the intricate marching order of the twelve tribes and the Levites. Verses 11-28 delineate this highly organized procession. Numbers 10:17 states that after the vanguard (Judah, Issachar, Zebulun) moved, the Gershonites and Merarites (who carried the coverings, frames, and pillars of the Tabernacle) departed to begin disassembling. Numbers 10:21 follows, positioning the Kohathites with their sacred burden to depart after the Tabernacle's frame had begun to be dismantled but before the majority of the tribes marched. This ensures the Tabernacle's structure would be in place by the time the holy items arrived, ready for immediate re-erection. This meticulous arrangement underscores the reverence for God's dwelling and the precise nature of His commands for maintaining His presence among His people during their wilderness journey.
Numbers 10 21 Word analysis
- Then (וְאַחֲרֵי): "And after." This transitional conjunction indicates the sequence of events. It highlights that the Kohathites' movement was part of a divinely orchestrated, continuous procession, specifically following the first division of tribes and the initial Levites carrying the Tabernacle's structure.
- the Kohathites (הַקְּהָתִים - haq'qĕhātîm): Descendants of Kohath, one of Levi's three sons (alongside Gershon and Merari). They were divinely appointed to carry the most sacred components of the Tabernacle (Ark, Table of Showbread, Menorah, Altars). This specific family was singled out due to the extreme holiness of their burden, distinguishing their role from other Levites.
- set out (נָסְעוּ - nās'ū): From the root meaning to "pull up," "depart," or "journey." This verb signifies the act of breaking camp and beginning to march. It denotes a deliberate, ordered movement, not a spontaneous one.
- carrying (נֹשְׂאִים - nōśĕ'îm): A participle, indicating an ongoing action or state of "bearing," "lifting," or "transporting." Unlike the Gershonites and Merarites who used wagons, the Kohathites had to carry the holy things on their shoulders (Num 7:9), signifying the reverence and carefulness required.
- the holy things (הַקֹּדֶשׁ - haqqōḏeš): Literally "the holiness" or "the holy object(s)." This refers collectively to the inner furniture of the Tabernacle, specifically the articles of the Most Holy Place and the Holy Place, which represented the immediate presence and character of God. This term emphasizes the consecrated, set-apart nature of these items.
- so that (וְהֵקִימוּ אֶת הַמִּשְׁכָּן): This is the purpose clause, indicating the reason for the Kohathites' position in the march. The Hebrew could be translated "and they will erect the Tabernacle," or, more likely in this context, "so that the Tabernacle will be set up." It points to a preparatory action.
- the tabernacle (הַמִּשְׁכָּן - hammišhkān): "The dwelling place" or "sanctuary." Refers to the portable tent-sanctuary where God manifested His presence among Israel. Its very name indicates its purpose: a place for God to "dwell" or "tabernacle."
- would be set up (וְהֵקִימוּ - wəhēqîmū): From the root קוּם (qûm), meaning "to rise," "stand up," "establish." In the Hiphil stem here, it means "to cause to stand up," "to erect," "to set up." This highlights the act of rebuilding or reassembling the structure for worship. The precise timing means it would be assembled expediently.
- before their arrival (בְּבֹאָם - bəḇō'ām): "In their coming" or "at their arrival." This phrase is crucial for understanding the sequencing. It means the structural parts of the Tabernacle, carried by the Gershonites and Merarites, would already be erected before the Kohathites, carrying the sacred furniture, reached the new camp. This ensured immediate readiness for the installation of the holy articles upon the Kohathites' arrival, thus maintaining continuous worship and access to God's presence without unnecessary delay.
- "Then the Kohathites set out, carrying the holy things": This phrase highlights the precise order and the sacred duty entrusted to a specific Levitical clan. It underscores the profound reverence with which God's presence and holy instruments were to be treated. Their special function required direct physical contact with the vessels, marking them as uniquely sanctified.
- "so that the tabernacle would be set up before their arrival": This clarifies the strategic reasoning behind the marching order. It's a logistical masterpiece, designed by God to ensure minimal downtime for the center of worship. The structural parts (Gershonites and Merarites) marched just ahead, allowing them to begin erecting the frame. When the Kohathites arrived with the Ark and other furnishings, the tent would be ready for the insertion of the sacred items, thus allowing God's dwelling place to be operational with remarkable efficiency. This also shows the priority God places on the prompt establishment of His presence among His people.
Numbers 10 21 Bonus section
- Theology of Presence: The careful, even urgent, transport of the Tabernacle components, especially the holy things, points to the centrality of God's immanent presence. Unlike pagan deities tied to static temples or easily discardable idols, Yahweh actively "marched" with His people, demanding careful protocols to reflect His holiness.
- A Polemic against Chaos: The precise, military-like organization of the camp and march (Num 2 and 10) stood in stark contrast to the chaotic or unstructured worship often associated with surrounding pagan cultures. It emphasized Yahweh's nature as a God of order and peace, not confusion (1 Cor 14:33).
- Levitical Priesthood: This verse further distinguishes the duties of the Kohathites within the broader Levitical family. Each Levitical clan had a specific, indispensable role in the care of the Tabernacle, showcasing the importance of diversified service within God's greater plan. Their being given no wagons for their burden underscored the personal, hands-on, and highly reverent nature of their task.
Numbers 10 21 Commentary
Numbers 10:21 presents a snapshot of the meticulous divine order governing Israel's wilderness journey. It is not merely a detail about logistics but a theological statement about God's presence. The Kohathites, guardians of the most holy items—including the Ark of the Covenant, representing God's throne and covenant faithfulness—had a unique and dangerous responsibility (recall Uzzah's fate). Their specific placement in the march, between the tribes responsible for the outer camp and those carrying the Tabernacle's framework, yet before the main tribal body, illustrates divine foresight. The aim was to ensure that the physical structure of the Tabernacle was ready for the holy furnishings the moment the Kohathites arrived, enabling the worship space to be quickly reconstituted. This sequence reflects God's desire for continuous communion with His people, even on the move, emphasizing that access to Him and His commands (represented by the Ark of the Covenant, containing the tablets of the Law) was always paramount and efficiently re-established. It underscores the principles of divine order, careful handling of sacred things, and the priority of God's dwelling among His people in their every movement. This organized journey prefigures the call to order in Christian worship and lives, acknowledging that God desires decency and structure in all things pertaining to Him.