Numbers 3 31

Numbers 3:31 kjv

And their charge shall be the ark, and the table, and the candlestick, and the altars, and the vessels of the sanctuary wherewith they minister, and the hanging, and all the service thereof.

Numbers 3:31 nkjv

Their duty included the ark, the table, the lampstand, the altars, the utensils of the sanctuary with which they ministered, the screen, and all the work relating to them.

Numbers 3:31 niv

They were responsible for the care of the ark, the table, the lampstand, the altars, the articles of the sanctuary used in ministering, the curtain, and everything related to their use.

Numbers 3:31 esv

And their guard duty involved the ark, the table, the lampstand, the altars, the vessels of the sanctuary with which the priests minister, and the screen; all the service connected with these.

Numbers 3:31 nlt

These four clans were responsible for the care of the Ark, the table, the lampstand, the altars, the various articles used in the sanctuary, the inner curtain, and all the equipment related to their use.

Numbers 3 verses

Numbers 3 31 Meaning

Numbers 3:31 outlines the specific duties assigned to the Kohathite clan of the Levites in the wilderness Tabernacle service. Their unique and sacred responsibility involved transporting the most holy objects of the Tabernacle, including the Ark of the Covenant, the Table of Showbread, the Golden Lampstand (Candlestick), the two Altars (of Incense and Burnt Offering), the various vessels used for sanctuary service, and the Veil that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place. This assignment emphasized their central role in the sacred custody and movement of the symbols of God's presence and covenant.

Numbers 3 31 Context

Numbers chapter 3 details the census of the Levites and assigns specific duties to its three major clans: Gershonites, Kohathites, and Merarites, establishing their vital role in the Tabernacle's operation and movement during Israel's wilderness journey. The overall purpose of this enumeration and assignment was to maintain the sanctity and order of the camp of Israel, especially concerning God's dwelling place. The historical context is Israel encamped in the wilderness, learning to live as God's covenant people under the Mosaic Law. The precise delineation of duties, particularly for the sacred objects, directly counters any casual or presumptuous approach to the Holy God, contrasting sharply with the often chaotic and unholy practices of contemporary pagan religions which sometimes allowed unqualified access to idols or temples. It established a divinely ordered structure for interacting with the sacred, emphasizing reverence and separation.

Numbers 3 31 Word analysis

• And their charge (וּמִשְׁמֶרֶת ūmishmereth):

  • Mishmereth derives from the root shamar, meaning "to keep," "to guard," or "to watch."
  • Significance: It implies a strict responsibility, a sacred trust, and careful custody rather than a simple task. It emphasizes guarding these holy items with utmost vigilance and adherence to precise regulations.
  • Context: This guarding was a profound privilege and a demanding obligation, underscoring the serious nature of serving a holy God.

• shall be the ark (הָאָרוֹן hā’ārôn):

  • Aron: The Ark of the Covenant, the most sacred object in the Tabernacle, symbolizing God's throne and presence, containing the tablets of the covenant, Aaron's rod, and manna.
  • Significance: Carrying the Ark was bearing God's direct presence, judgment, and power among the people. Its handling demanded extreme holiness, as demonstrated by incidents like Uzzah's death (2 Sam 6:6-7) when the proper method of bearing it (on shoulders by Levites) was ignored.

• and the table (וְהַשֻּׁלְחָן wəhaššulḥān):

  • Shulchan: The Table of Showbread (or "Presence Bread"), which continually displayed twelve loaves, representing God's provision and covenant with the twelve tribes.
  • Significance: This symbolized God's sustenance for His people, a reminder that He meets their daily needs. The Kohathites bore this visible symbol of divine provision.

• and the candlestick (וְהַמְּנֹרָה wəhammĕnôrâ):

  • Menorah: The Golden Lampstand, providing light in the Holy Place, a symbol of God's illuminating presence and the spiritual light of His truth.
  • Significance: Carrying the Menorah signified bearing God's light, representing divine guidance and revelation for Israel and, spiritually, for the world.

• and the altars (וְהַמִּזְבְּחֹת wəhammizbĕḥōṯ):

  • Mizbechot: Plural, referring to both the Altar of Burnt Offering (outside the Tent of Meeting) for animal sacrifices (atonement) and the Altar of Incense (inside the Holy Place) for aromatic incense (prayer and intercession).
  • Significance: These altars were central to atonement and worship. Bearing them meant transporting the very instruments by which reconciliation and communication with God occurred. Their holiness necessitated proper handling to avoid defilement or wrath.

• and the vessels of the sanctuary (וּכְלֵי הַקֹּדֶשׁ ūkhelê haqQōḏeš):

  • Kelei HaKodesh: Implies all the various utensils, bowls, shovels, censers, and other instruments specifically consecrated and used in the Tabernacle service.
  • Significance: This phrase indicates a comprehensive responsibility, not just for the major items but for every sacred implement associated with the worship of God, reinforcing the idea that no aspect of divine service was to be taken lightly or handled carelessly.

• wherewith they minister (אֲשֶׁר יְשָׁרְתוּ בָהֶם ’ăšer yĕšārṯū bāhem):

  • Shareth: "to minister," "to serve," often with a religious connotation, indicating priestly or Levitical service.
  • Significance: Emphasizes the purpose of these items as instruments for the priests and Levites to perform their sacred duties. The Kohathites' charge directly facilitated this sacred ministry.

• and the veil (וְהַפָּרֹכֶת wəhappārōḵeṯ):

  • Parochet: The thick curtain separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place, symbolizing the separation between God's absolute holiness and human sin.
  • Significance: Bearing the veil meant carrying the physical manifestation of divine separation and restricted access to God's presence, which was later rent at Christ's crucifixion (Matt 27:51), symbolizing newfound access to God through Him.

• and all the service thereof (וְכֹל עֲבֹדָתָהּ wəkōl ‘ăḇōḏāṯāh):

  • Avodah: "service," "work," "worship." This phrase emphasizes the entirety and comprehensiveness of the duty.
  • Significance: This concluding phrase leaves no room for ambiguity, ensuring that all aspects and nuances of the care, dismantling, and transporting of these sacred components fell under the Kohathites' meticulous oversight, highlighting the divine precision required in God's worship.

Numbers 3 31 Bonus section

The high-value nature of the items assigned to the Kohathites meant they were not given wagons or oxen, unlike the other Levitical clans (Num 7:9). They were required to carry these sacred elements on their shoulders, emphasizing direct personal responsibility, physical effort, and intimate, reverent contact, signifying the honor and gravitas of their role. This foreshadows the direct personal service and carrying of the "burden" of Christ's message, which is to be handled with purity and utmost care. This specific detail highlights the sacred nature and intrinsic worth of the Tabernacle's most holy components, which could not be entrusted to mere mechanical means.

Numbers 3 31 Commentary

Numbers 3:31 specifically designates the Kohathite Levites as custodians and carriers of the innermost, most holy components of the Tabernacle during Israel's journeys. This divine directive underscores the paramount importance of these objects, not merely as religious artifacts but as tangible representations of God's presence, provision, light, and the means of atonement and access to Him. The rigorous stipulations for handling these items (as seen elsewhere, like Aaron and his sons covering them first, Num 4:5-15, and the fatal consequence of improper contact, 2 Sam 6:6-7) illustrate God's absolute holiness and the sacred reverence demanded of those who served Him. This meticulous organization was a powerful object lesson to Israel, distinguishing Yahweh from the gods of surrounding nations and reinforcing the seriousness of covenant faithfulness. Spiritually, these physical burdens and strict requirements foreshadowed the spiritual truths of Christ's perfect ministry and ultimate fulfillment, where He Himself became the 'Ark' (God dwelling with man), the 'Bread' of life, the 'Light' of the world, and the 'Altar' of ultimate sacrifice and intercession, tearing the 'Veil' of separation between God and humanity by His own flesh. The call to responsible, reverent service thus remains timeless.