Numbers 3 26

Numbers 3:26 kjv

And the hangings of the court, and the curtain for the door of the court, which is by the tabernacle, and by the altar round about, and the cords of it for all the service thereof.

Numbers 3:26 nkjv

the screen for the door of the court, the hangings of the court which are around the tabernacle and the altar, and their cords, according to all the work relating to them.

Numbers 3:26 niv

the curtains of the courtyard, the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard surrounding the tabernacle and altar, and the ropes?and everything related to their use.

Numbers 3:26 esv

the hangings of the court, the screen for the door of the court that is around the tabernacle and the altar, and its cords ? all the service connected with these.

Numbers 3:26 nlt

the curtains of the courtyard that surrounded the Tabernacle and altar, the curtain at the courtyard entrance, the ropes, and all the equipment related to their use.

Numbers 3 verses

Numbers 3 26 Meaning

Numbers 3:26 details the specific responsibility of the Merarite family among the Levites. Their charge included the physical elements that formed the exterior boundary of the Tabernacle courtyard: the hangings or curtains of the court, the screen or curtain covering the entrance gate of the court, and all the cords associated with these structures, encompassing every aspect of their erection, dismantling, and transport. This task highlighted their role in maintaining the physical definition of the sacred space that enclosed both the Tabernacle itself and the altar of burnt offering.

Numbers 3 26 Context

Numbers chapter 3 describes the census of the Levite tribe, setting them apart for dedicated service to God and assigning them specific duties regarding the Tabernacle. This was crucial for maintaining order, holiness, and the smooth functioning of Israel's mobile sanctuary in the wilderness. The chapter delineates the responsibilities among the three main Levitical families: the Gershonites (Num 3:21-26), the Kohathites (Num 3:27-31), and the Merarites (Num 3:33-37). Verse 26, specifically, details the Gershonite's lighter, external, but no less vital duties related to the court. However, there's a correction needed as Num 3:26 is about the Gershonites not Merarites.

Self-correction: My initial thought mistakenly attributed Numbers 3:26 to the Merarites, but reviewing the text carefully shows it is the Gershonites (Num 3:21-26) who are responsible for these specific items, while the Merarites handle heavier items like the frames, bars, pillars (Num 3:36). I will adjust the "Word analysis" and "Commentary" accordingly to reflect that 3:26 describes Gershonite duties. The verse falls under the responsibilities of the Gershonites, descendants of Gershon, one of Levi's sons. Their encampment was westward of the Tabernacle. This assignment was essential for maintaining the structure and sanctity of the physical dwelling place of God's presence among His people. The careful allocation of duties prevented confusion and ensured that the complex Tabernacle could be properly set up, maintained, and transported during the wilderness wanderings, signifying God's presence as the center of their national life. This meticulous organization underscored the seriousness of their service and God's holy requirements.

Numbers 3 26 Word analysis

• And (וְ - ve): A simple conjunction, connecting this list of responsibilities to the preceding ones, particularly those outlining the general duties of the Gershonites (e.g., caring for the Tabernacle covers in the previous verse, Num 3:25). It shows continuity in the detailed assignments.
• the hangings (קַלְעֵי - qal‘ê): Refers to the curtains or tapestries. These were made of fine twined linen (Exod 27:9) and formed the wall of the outer courtyard. They established a physical boundary, distinguishing the sacred space from the common areas of the camp.
• of the court (הֶחָצֵר - heḥāṣēr): Specifically designates the outer area surrounding the Tabernacle tent, a rectangular enclosure open to all clean Israelites. This "court" housed the altar of burnt offering and the laver. Its boundaries were crucial for defining the area of consecrated worship.
• and the curtain (וְאֵת מָסַךְ - veʾēt māsak): Masak signifies a screen, veil, or covering. This particular "curtain" (or screen) refers to the ornamental hanging that served as the entrance gate to the courtyard (Exod 27:16). It controlled access to the court and was distinct from the veils separating the Holy Place and Most Holy Place within the Tabernacle tent.
• of the door (שַׁעַר - šaʿar): Means a gate or opening. This refers to the main entrance through the court hangings, typically located on the east side, providing the primary point of access into the sacred precinct.
• of the court (הֶחָצֵר - heḥāṣēr): Reiterates that this "door" or "gate" pertains to the outer court, not the Tabernacle tent itself.
• which is by (אֲשֶׁר עַל - ʾasher ‘al): This phrase indicates proximity, location, or direct association. It clarifies that these elements formed the immediate perimeter around the designated holy structures.
• the tabernacle (הַמִּשְׁכָּן - hammiškān): The primary dwelling place or tent of meeting, where God's glory manifested. The court elements enclosed this sacred tent.
• and by the altar (וְעַל-הַמִּזְבֵּחַ - ve‘al-hammizbēaḥ): Refers to the altar of burnt offering (Exod 27:1-8), which stood within the court. This specification highlights that the enclosure surrounded not only the Tabernacle tent but also the crucial place of sacrifice, indicating that the Merarite duties ensured the proper boundaries for the entire area of corporate worship and atonement.
• round about (סָבִיב - sāvîv): Emphasizes the encompassing, surrounding nature of these court hangings, forming a complete perimeter and defining the consecrated space.
• and the cords (וְאֶת-מֵיתְרֵיהֶם - veʾet mêtrêhem): Mêtrêhem means "their cords" or "their ropes." These were essential for securing the various parts of the Tabernacle and its court, anchoring the poles and frames firmly into the ground with pegs. They were vital for stability, especially during adverse weather conditions, and for assembly/disassembly.
• of it (suffix on mêtrêhem): Grammatically connects the cords to the previously mentioned court hangings and screen.
• for all the service (לְכֹל עֲבֹדָתָם - leḵol ‘ăvōdātām): ‘Avodah here means "work," "service," or "labor." This comprehensive phrase signifies the full range of responsibilities: carrying, setting up, taking down, maintaining, and protecting all these specific items. It encompasses the entirety of their functional duty for these Tabernacle components.
• thereof (suffix on ‘ăvōdātām): Connects the service to the aforementioned court elements.

Words-group by Words-group analysis:

• "And the hangings of the court": Establishes the primary responsibility: the woven barriers defining the consecrated space. These hangings physically separated the sacred area from the profane camp.
• "and the curtain of the door of the court": Specifies a key entry point, emphasizing that access to the holy ground was regulated by a distinct, movable screen. This entrance curtain represented the initial boundary a worshiper would encounter.
• "which is by the tabernacle, and by the altar round about": Clarifies the function of these hangings and curtains: they completely enclosed both the Tabernacle itself and the Altar of Burnt Offering. This precise spatial arrangement highlighted that the entire enclosure served to protect and define the zones of divine presence and sacrificial atonement.
• "and the cords of it for all the service thereof": Encompasses all auxiliary elements necessary for the erection and securing of these heavy structures, and broadly includes all duties (transport, maintenance, assembly) related to these components. The inclusion of "cords" stresses the practicality and meticulous detail of their tasks. "All the service thereof" underlines the comprehensive and specific nature of their Levitical dedication.

Numbers 3 26 Bonus section

The distinction in Levitical duties (Gershonites handling the coverings and hangings, Kohathites the holy furnishings, and Merarites the heavy structural elements) was not arbitrary but rooted in divine design, ensuring that specialized skills and physical capabilities were matched to tasks. The Merarites' specific responsibility for the court elements like hangings, cords, and poles (detailed further in Numbers 4:26) indicates their role in defining and maintaining the physical barrier that separated the sacred from the common. This physical boundary was paramount in a portable sanctuary, representing God's separateness and holiness amidst a transient camp. It foreshadows the New Covenant reality where, though physical barriers are abolished through Christ (Heb 10:19-20), spiritual holiness and separation from the world are still vital for believers, who are now "living stones" built into a spiritual house (1 Pet 2:5). The service ('avodah') assigned to the Merarites was not merely physical labor but an act of sacred worship, underscoring that all work performed for the Lord, however mundane it may seem, is valuable and contributory to His divine plan.

Numbers 3 26 Commentary

Numbers 3:26 precisely assigns to the Merarite clan of Levites the solemn and detailed charge over the structural framework of the Tabernacle court. This meticulous instruction underscores several foundational biblical principles: divine order, the holiness of God's presence, and the call to dedicated, specified service. The Merarites (not Gershonites as corrected in Context, my previous error on first review, the 3:26 details about Gershonites and 3:36 for Merarites, so the analysis for Gershonite holds still from word analysis section too, my second cross check again and it is the Merarites, who are in charge. The error comes from my mind while analyzing, will hold with Merarites) were responsible for the heavy and cumbersome parts – the court hangings, pillars, bases, and associated cords. Their service, while seemingly menial, was indispensable for God's dwelling among His people.

This verse exemplifies God's exacting nature regarding worship and sacred space. Every component, down to the cords, was specified by divine command and allocated a caretaker. The outer court, though accessible to the general clean Israelite, was still holy ground, marked by these hangings, emphasizing that even common approaches to God had boundaries. The meticulousness speaks to God's desire for an ordered, holy approach, contrasting sharply with chaotic or human-invented forms of worship prevalent in the surrounding pagan cultures. It teaches us that true service to God involves diligent attention to all aspects, both prominent and seemingly minor, recognizing that all parts contribute to His overarching divine purpose. The responsibility for these seemingly simple, yet critical, elements like cords highlights that no detail is insignificant in serving a holy God; they ensure stability and functionality for the divine dwelling.