Numbers 4 10

Numbers 4:10 kjv

And they shall put it and all the vessels thereof within a covering of badgers' skins, and shall put it upon a bar.

Numbers 4:10 nkjv

Then they shall put it with all its utensils in a covering of badger skins, and put it on a carrying beam.

Numbers 4:10 niv

Then they are to wrap it and all its accessories in a covering of the durable leather and put it on a carrying frame.

Numbers 4:10 esv

And they shall put it with all its utensils in a covering of goatskin and put it on the carrying frame.

Numbers 4:10 nlt

Then they must cover the lampstand and its accessories with fine goatskin leather and place the bundle on a carrying frame.

Numbers 4 10 Cross References

Verse Text Reference
Num 4:15 And when Aaron and his sons... shall have finished covering the sanctuary and all the vessels of the sanctuary... afterward the sons of Kohath shall come to carry it... but they shall not touch the holy things, lest they die. Kohathite duty & strict prohibition of direct touch.
Exod 25:13-15 You shall make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold... and put the poles into the rings on the sides of the table to carry it. The poles shall remain in the rings of the ark... Divine command for carrying poles for holy items.
Exod 25:27-28 And make for it four rings of gold... put the poles into the rings... to carry the ark with them. Instruction for the Ark's carrying poles.
Exod 30:4 And make two rings of gold for it under its molding... they shall be holders for poles with which to carry it. Instruction for the Altar of Incense poles.
Exod 37:4 He made poles of acacia wood for the table... to carry the table with them. Fulfillment of the command for the table's poles.
Exod 38:7 He put the poles into the rings... to carry it with them. Instruction for the Altar of Burnt Offering poles.
Num 1:50-51 But appoint the Levites over the tabernacle... and over all its furnishings, and over all that belongs to it. They shall carry the tabernacle and all its furnishings... General Levite responsibility for transport.
Num 3:31 Their duties involve the ark, the table... the altars, the holy vessels... and the screen. Specific Kohathite responsibility list.
Num 7:9 But to the sons of Kohath he gave none, because theirs was the service of the holy things, which had to be carried on their shoulders. No wagons for Kohathites; articles carried by poles on shoulders.
2 Sam 6:6-7 When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah put out his hand... and took hold of the ark of God, for the oxen stumbled... the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah, and God struck him down... because he put out his hand to the ark... Consequence of disobeying instructions on handling holy things.
1 Kgs 8:7-8 For the cherubim spread out their wings over the place of the ark, so that the cherubim made a covering above the ark and its poles... and the poles were so long that the ends of the poles were seen from the Holy Place... Reference to the poles even after the Ark was stationary in the Temple.
1 Chr 15:2 Then David said, “No one is to carry the ark of God but the Levites; for the Lord chose them to carry the ark of God and to minister to him forever.” Clarifies Levite exclusivity in carrying holy things.
Lev 10:1-2 Now Nadab and Abihu... offered unauthorized fire before the Lord... and fire came out from before the Lord and consumed them... Severity of God's holiness and disobedience.
Deut 10:8 At that time the Lord set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant of the Lord... Recaps the Levites' role in carrying.
Heb 9:2-5 For a tent was prepared, the first section... the lampstand, the table, and the showbread... Behind the second curtain was a second section called the Most Holy Place... which contained... the ark of the covenant... Describes the tabernacle articles, underscoring their significance.
Heb 9:11-12 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, he entered through the greater and more perfect tent... not with the blood of goats and calves but with his own blood... Christ as the ultimate High Priest, entering a spiritual "Tabernacle."
1 Cor 6:19-20 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you...? Believers as spiritual carriers of God's presence.
2 Cor 5:19-20 God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, and entrusting to us the ministry of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ... Believers entrusted with a sacred spiritual ministry.
Rom 12:1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. A call to spiritual "service" and "carrying" God's purposes.
Phil 2:30 For he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me. Example of dedicated service akin to carrying.
Ps 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. God's word guides, spiritualizes the need for precise instruction.
John 4:24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth. Emphasis on spiritual, not merely physical, reverence and service.

Numbers 4 verses

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Numbers 4 10 Meaning

This verse is a specific instruction to Aaron's sons, the priests, regarding the proper procedure for preparing the holy articles of the Tabernacle for transport. After covering the table of showbread with a specific cloth, they were to place carrying poles through its rings, enabling the Kohathite Levites to bear it without directly touching the sacred objects. This meticulous instruction underscores the extreme holiness of God's dwelling and its contents, demanding a strict and prescribed approach.

Numbers 4 10 Context

Numbers Chapter 4 details the specific duties of the three Levite clans—Kohathites, Gershonites, and Merarites—in preparing, disassembling, transporting, and reassembling the Tabernacle components during Israel's wilderness wanderings. Verses 1-15 specifically address the Kohathites, who were responsible for the most sacred articles: the Ark of the Covenant, the table of showbread, the menorah, the altars, and other vessels. Because these items were exquisitely holy, a meticulous procedure was required for their handling. Aaron and his sons, the priests, first had to cover these articles to prevent any common or even unauthorized Levite from seeing or touching them directly, as touching could result in death. Verse 10 outlines one precise step in this covering process, instructing the priests to secure the poles for transport immediately after covering the table, emphasizing preparation for movement. This entire arrangement highlighted God's immense holiness, the required mediation, and the divinely ordained order for interacting with His presence.

Numbers 4 10 Word Analysis

  • and shall put (וְנָתְנוּ - wə-nāṯnū):
    • "and": A common Hebrew conjunction, connecting this action sequentially to the previous instruction (Num 4:9), which details covering the table with cloths. It shows a continuous, prescribed order.
    • "shall put": From the Hebrew verb נָתַן (nathan), meaning "to give," "to place," "to set." Here, it signifies careful, deliberate placement. The plural subject implied from previous verses refers to Aaron and his sons (the priests), underscoring that only consecrated priests could handle these objects at this stage of preparation. This highlights the exclusivity and holiness of the task.
  • it (אֹתוֹ - ’ōṯō):
    • A masculine singular pronoun, referring directly to the "table of the presence" (table of showbread) that was just described as being covered in the preceding verses (Num 4:7-8). This maintains clarity about the specific object being prepared for transport.
  • on a carrying pole (עַל-מוֹט - ‘al-mōṭ):
    • "on" (עַל - ‘al): A preposition indicating direct contact and placement upon an object.
    • "a carrying pole" (מוֹט - moṭ): Refers to a wooden bar or stave, often made of acacia wood and overlaid with gold (as specified in Exodus for these items). These poles were permanently affixed or passed through rings specifically designed on the sacred objects. Their primary function was to enable the Kohathites to lift and carry the holy items on their shoulders without direct physical contact with the sacred surfaces themselves, emphasizing ritual purity and the prevention of defilement or sacrilege. This ensured portability while maintaining distance due to the intense holiness of the articles.
  • "and shall put it on a carrying pole": This entire phrase dictates the precise and divinely ordained method for transporting the table of showbread. It underscores:
    • Holiness: The object is too sacred for direct human contact.
    • Order: There is a specific sequence for preparing and moving God's sanctuary.
    • Responsibility: Priests initiate the preparation by making it ready for the Levites' handling.
    • Divine Provision: God had previously commanded the construction of these poles (Exod 25:13-14) as part of the very design of the Tabernacle items, showing forethought for their mobility.

Numbers 4 10 Bonus Section

  • The meticulous instructions in Numbers 4 underscore the reality that while God desires to dwell among His people, He does so as a perfectly holy God. This is not arbitrary ritualism but foundational teaching about God's nature and the consequences of sin and presumption.
  • The fact that these highly sacred articles were to be "carried" on shoulders, rather than in wagons (Num 7:9), reinforced the concept of personal responsibility and service required in approaching and transporting God's presence. It was a physical representation of the spiritual burden and honor of service.
  • The detail of "carrying poles" implies continuous readiness for movement. This reminds Israel, and believers today, that the walk with God often involves journeys and transitions, and we must be prepared to carry His presence with us through all of life's movements, adhering to His will.

Numbers 4 10 Commentary

Numbers 4:10 is a microcosm of the Tabernacle instructions: highly specific, seemingly mundane details infused with profound spiritual meaning. The command for priests to "put it on a carrying pole" for the table of showbread, immediately after covering it, highlights God's unapproachable holiness and His meticulous demand for proper mediation. The use of poles prevented direct contact, signifying both the inherent danger of approaching God presumptuously and the absolute necessity of prescribed ways to draw near. This strict protocol taught Israel reverence, distinction, and the gravity of their relationship with a holy God. It foreshadows the ultimate spiritual "carrying" and "approaching" made possible through Christ, who as our High Priest, removed the need for physical barriers and mediates perfect access, yet still demands reverence and holiness in approach.