Numbers 3 29

Numbers 3:29 kjv

The families of the sons of Kohath shall pitch on the side of the tabernacle southward.

Numbers 3:29 nkjv

The families of the children of Kohath were to camp on the south side of the tabernacle.

Numbers 3:29 niv

The Kohathite clans were to camp on the south side of the tabernacle.

Numbers 3:29 esv

The clans of the sons of Kohath were to camp on the south side of the tabernacle,

Numbers 3:29 nlt

and they were assigned the area south of the Tabernacle for their camp.

Numbers 3 verses

Numbers 3 29 Meaning

Numbers 3:29 details the precise camping location for the Kohathite families within the Levitical arrangement surrounding the Tabernacle during Israel's wilderness sojourn. This directive illustrates God's meticulous divine order for the Israelite camp and the specific, divinely appointed positions and duties for each group, especially those dedicated to the sacred service of the Tabernacle.

Numbers 3 29 Context

Numbers chapter 3 describes the specific census and divinely ordained duties assigned to the Levites, who were set apart to serve the Tabernacle in place of the firstborn of Israel. The chapter begins by listing Aaron's descendants, the priestly line, and then systematically delineates the three main Levitical clans—Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. For each clan, it specifies their patriarchal head, the count of their males, their designated positions around the Tabernacle, and their unique responsibilities concerning its components during travel. Verse 29, therefore, is an integral part of this detailed organizational scheme, precisely situating the Kohathites on the south side. This elaborate structure emphasized the Tabernacle's sanctity, highlighted the paramount importance of divine order in all facets of Israelite life and worship, and reinforced the specific, divinely appointed roles for each group in maintaining and approaching God's holy presence. This context also lays the theological groundwork for understanding later challenges to divine authority, such as Korah's rebellion, which directly involved a Kohathite challenging this established order.

Numbers 3 29 Word analysis

• The families (מִשְׁפְּחֹת֙ - mišpāḥôt): This term signifies the ancestral clans or subdivisions within a larger tribe. Its use here emphasizes the communal, lineage-based nature of the Kohathites' sacred responsibility and divine appointment. God's interactions with Israel frequently involved corporate entities like families and tribes, establishing a shared identity and collective service to the Divine.
• of the sons of Kohath (בְּנֵ֣י קְהָ֔ת - bənê qəhāṯ): Identifies this specific Levite lineage, descended from Kohath, one of Levi's three sons (alongside Gershon and Merari). The Kohathites bore the distinct and most critical charge among the Levites: personally carrying the Tabernacle's most holy furniture, including the Ark of the Covenant, the Table of Showbread, the Lampstand, and the Altars (Num 3:31, 4:4-15). Their unique and direct handling of these sacred items highlighted the immense sanctity and peril associated with their service; any improper approach could result in death.
• were to camp (יַחֲנוּ֮ - yaḥănû): This verb conveys a divine command, establishing a mandatory and divinely ordained arrangement for their encampment. The act of "camping" itself implies an ordered, perhaps military-like, formation, fitting for the wilderness journey of God's people organized around His central presence. This specific directive ensured both the practical functionality and symbolic reverence in managing the Tabernacle.
• on the south side (נֶ֖גֶב - negev): Designates the specific cardinal direction "south." While the cardinal directions (east, south, west, north) were assigned distinct tribal groups (Num 2) and Levitical families, "south" in this context primarily indicates precise location within God's ordered blueprint. The Reubenite tribal camp also positioned itself on the south side (Num 2:10), showing an overall symmetrical and divinely planned layout for the entire wilderness encampment. The exactitude of this instruction demonstrates God's sovereignty over even seemingly minor details.
• of the tabernacle (לַמִּשְׁכָּֽן - lamiškan): Refers to the movable sanctuary, the divine dwelling place of God among His people Israel. The Tabernacle served as the physical center of Israel's spiritual life, worship, and atonement system. All directives concerning its care, proximity, movement, and the placement of those serving it, were directly tied to maintaining purity, holiness, and appropriate reverence in the immediate presence of the Holy God.

Word-groups analysis:

• The families of the sons of Kohath: This precise identification emphasizes both their communal identity ("families") and their divinely ordained heritage ("sons of Kohath"). It reinforces that their service was not arbitrary but based on specific lineage, highlighting the ordered and genealogical nature of their spiritual function. This order was God-given, contrasting with systems where religious duties might be chosen or acquired.
• were to camp on the south side: This phrase details the exact placement commanded by God. The precise spatial arrangement around the Tabernacle created sacred zones, crucial for both practical management (access, dismantling, re-erecting) and theological expression (honoring divine holiness). It underscored that the Israelites' entire existence, even their physical layout, was to be meticulously ordered according to God's will and centered on His manifest presence.
• of the tabernacle: This crucial phrase establishes the focal point of the entire Israelite encampment and the supreme reason for the Levites' existence and service. The entire layout, with tribes and Levites positioned concentrically around the Tabernacle, vividly demonstrated its centrality as the visible manifestation of God's presence, the site of atonement, and the locus where a holy God communed with His people.

Numbers 3 29 Bonus section

The precise ordering of the Israelite camp, with each tribe and Levite family having a specific place relative to the Tabernacle, visually communicated profound theological truths. It taught Israel, generation after generation, that their national identity, their daily life, and their spiritual vitality revolved entirely around the tangible presence of God in their midst. The concentric circles of tribes and Levites served as a living diagram of holiness, with increasing sanctity towards the center, where God dwelt. This layered arrangement, with the Kohathites guarding the inner holy elements, served as both protection for the holy things from common access and a merciful protection for the people from unmediated divine holiness. This divinely ordered system was a preparatory type, pointing towards the ultimate order and mediation provided by Christ, who perfectly fulfills the Tabernacle's shadow as our true meeting place with God and High Priest.

Numbers 3 29 Commentary

Numbers 3:29 precisely details God's command for the placement of the Kohathite families on the south side of the Tabernacle. This instruction, seemingly a minor detail of camp logistics, profoundly illustrates the divine emphasis on absolute order, specific structure, and distinct responsibilities in the sacred service of God. The Kohathites, entrusted with the extremely holy duty of bearing the most sacred Tabernacle furnishings, were meticulously positioned to underscore the solemnity and particularity of their role. This meticulous arrangement safeguarded the sanctity of God's dwelling, enforced reverence, and established correct protocol in His presence (cf. Num 4:15), preventing any unauthorized or irreverent access that could lead to judgment, as later tragically demonstrated by Korah's challenge to this divine order (Num 16:1ff). Ultimately, this verse reveals the character of God as One who demands order, peace, and holiness (1 Cor 14:33, 40) in all aspects of life and worship, where every part of His creation, including His chosen people, plays a unique and essential role in His grand, divine design. This Old Testament pattern of structured service beautifully foreshadows the New Testament principle of the Body of Christ, where diverse members contribute uniquely to the harmonious function and common good of the church (Rom 12:4-5).