Numbers 7 9

Numbers 7:9 kjv

But unto the sons of Kohath he gave none: because the service of the sanctuary belonging unto them was that they should bear upon their shoulders.

Numbers 7:9 nkjv

But to the sons of Kohath he gave none, because theirs was the service of the holy things, which they carried on their shoulders.

Numbers 7:9 niv

But Moses did not give any to the Kohathites, because they were to carry on their shoulders the holy things, for which they were responsible.

Numbers 7:9 esv

But to the sons of Kohath he gave none, because they were charged with the service of the holy things that had to be carried on the shoulder.

Numbers 7:9 nlt

But he gave none of the wagons or oxen to the Kohathite division, since they were required to carry the sacred objects of the Tabernacle on their shoulders.

Numbers 7 verses

Numbers 7 9 Meaning

Numbers 7:9 declares that while carts and oxen were provided for the Merarites and Gershonites to transport parts of the Tabernacle, no such conveyances were given to the Kohathite families. This specific exclusion was due to the nature of their service: they were divinely commanded to personally bear the most sacred elements of the Tabernacle, such as the Ark of the Covenant, the altar, and the lampstand, directly on their shoulders. This directive underscored the exceptional holiness of these items, requiring a personal, reverent, and unmediated handling in obedience to God's instructions.

Numbers 7 9 Context

Numbers chapter 7 details the extensive offerings brought by the twelve tribal leaders for the dedication of the newly erected Tabernacle following its completion (Num 7:1). These offerings, including carts and oxen, were provided to assist the Levites in dismantling, transporting, and reassembling the Tabernacle during Israel's wilderness journeys. The immediate context of verse 9 follows Moses' distribution of six covered carts and twelve oxen among two of the three Levite clans. Verses 7-8 specify that two carts and four oxen were given to the Gershonites for their service involving the Tabernacle's curtains and coverings, and four carts and eight oxen to the Merarites for transporting its heavy planks, pillars, and bases. Verse 9 then explains why the third Levitical clan, the Kohathites, received no such conveyances. Historically, this event occurs during the wilderness wanderings, immediately after the formal organization and census of the Israelite camp and the precise outlining of Levitical duties (Numbers 1-6). The detailed instructions for the Tabernacle's construction and its handling highlight God's meticulous care for His dwelling place and His precise ordering of sacred service, contrasting with the often crude and unwieldy methods of transporting pagan idols or temporary structures.

Numbers 7 9 Word analysis

• But to the sons of Kohath (וְלִבְנֵי קְהָת, wĕlibhnê qəhāt):
  • "But": A strong adversative conjunction, signifying a contrast or exception to the preceding distribution of gifts. It highlights the unique status of the Kohathites.
  • "sons of Kohath": בְּנֵי קְהָת (bənê qəhāt). Kohath was Levi's second son. This designation specifies a distinct sub-clan within the Levites, who had a singular, solemn responsibility regarding the most sacred artifacts of the Tabernacle. This underscores the hereditary and divine assignment of roles within Israel's worship system.
• he gave none (לֹא נָתַן, lō' nāṯan):
  • "gave": From נָתַן (nathan), meaning "to give, grant, assign." This action (or lack thereof) is from God, via Moses.
  • "none": The strong negation לֹא (lō'). This emphatic denial signifies a deliberate, divine choice. No provision was made for wheeled transport for the Kohathites, emphasizing a unique requirement for them that superseded convenience.
• because the service of the sanctuary belonging to them: (כִּי עֲבֹדַת הַקֹּדֶשׁ לָהֶם, kî ‘ăḇōḏaṯ haqqōḏeš lāhem):
  • "because": כִּי (kî), introducing the reason or justification for the unique treatment.
  • "the service of the sanctuary": עֲבֹדַת הַקֹּדֶשׁ (‘ăḇōḏaṯ haqqōḏeš).
    • "service": עֲבֹדַת (‘ăḇōḏaṯ) derives from עֲבוֹדָה (‘ăvōdāh), meaning "work, labor, service, worship." Here, it specifically denotes their assigned sacred duty or ministry.
    • "the sanctuary": הַקֹּדֶשׁ (haqqōḏeš), "the holy," referring to the holy things or the holy place itself. This is critical as it indicates the objects were profoundly sacred, distinct from other parts of the Tabernacle. These included the Ark of the Covenant, the table of showbread, the golden altar of incense, and the lampstand (Num 3:31, 4:5-15).
  • "belonging to them": לָהֶם (lāhem), indicating that this particular, sensitive service was uniquely theirs. It was a distinct and weighty portion of their hereditary responsibility, not transferable or shared with others in its method of handling.
• was carried on their shoulders: (בַּכָּתֵף יִשָּׂאוּ, bakkāthēph yiśśā'û):
  • "on their shoulders": בַּכָּתֵף (bakkāthēph), "on the shoulder." The use of the definite article (ha) prefixed to כָּתֵף (kāthēph, "shoulder") implies "the specific (method of using) shoulder," indicating a prescribed way. This method ensured direct physical contact, signifying reverence, personal commitment, and the supreme holiness of the objects being transported. It represented an intimate, reverent engagement.
  • "was carried": יִשָּׂאוּ (yiśśā'û), from נָשָׂא (nāsā’), meaning "to lift, bear, carry, endure." The imperfect tense suggests an ongoing obligation, not a one-time event. This mode of transport served as a constant reminder of the sanctity of the items and the heavy spiritual responsibility of those who handled them. This command directly contravenes methods used in pagan religions where idols were often paraded on carts or carried by beasts, subtly affirming the active and holy nature of the God of Israel compared to inanimate idols.

Words-group analysis

• "But to the sons of Kohath he gave none": This phrase immediately establishes an exceptional case for the Kohathites, highlighting a specific divine restriction upon them concerning the very practical means of transport available to other Levites. This serves to emphasize their distinct and higher calling regarding the sacred elements.
• "because the service of the sanctuary belonging to them was carried on their shoulders": This clause provides the explicit divine rationale for the previous denial. It underscores that the nature of their assigned "service of the sanctuary" (עֲבֹדַת הַקֹּדֶשׁ) directly dictated the method of transport (בַּכָּתֵף יִשָּׂאוּ). This method wasn't a logistical choice but a holy imperative, demonstrating profound reverence for God's presence and His most holy items, symbolizing direct responsibility and intimacy. It contrasted God's glory with pagan gods dragged on carts (cf. Isa 46:1-2), showing the unique relationship between YHWH and His consecrated servants.

Numbers 7 9 Bonus section

The specificity of the command to the Kohathites illustrates a principle often seen in Scripture: those entrusted with greater spiritual proximity to God or with highly sacred duties are often subject to stricter rules and higher standards. This unique burden of the Kohathites highlighted the non-negotiable nature of God's holiness and the precise obedience required for His service, preventing casual or improper handling. While seemingly burdensome, this intimate act of carrying also conveyed honor and intimacy, setting them apart within the Levitical tribe. It foreshadows a New Testament truth: those who carry the "treasure" of the Gospel (cf. 2 Cor 4:7) bear a profound spiritual responsibility, requiring purity, faithfulness, and unwavering adherence to divine truth. This principle resonates with various callings within the Christian faith, where some are entrusted with greater, distinct responsibilities in ministry that require a higher degree of dedication, self-denial, and direct adherence to God's revealed will, not relying on worldly convenience or diluted standards.

Numbers 7 9 Commentary

Numbers 7:9 serves as a crucial clarification within the detailed accounts of the Tabernacle's dedication, emphasizing the profound sacredness and unique protocol governing God's presence among Israel. While practicality and efficiency informed the provision of carts for other Levite families, the Kohathites' exclusion from such conveyances was a theological statement. It underscored that the objects they were tasked with carrying – specifically the Ark of the Covenant and other holy vessels – were not merely religious artifacts but conduits of God's immediate presence. Their direct bearing on the shoulders was a solemn act of reverence, indicating that no intervening technology (like a cart) should diminish the intimate, human effort, and absolute holiness required. This manual burden symbolized not a hardship, but a distinct honor and weighty spiritual responsibility. The later incident of Uzzah, who was struck dead for touching the Ark improperly (2 Sam 6), tragically reinforces the non-negotiable sanctity and specific commands attached to handling God's holy things, proving this wasn't an arbitrary rule but one fundamental to Israel's worship and covenant relationship with God. In essence, the verse teaches that God's holiness defines the appropriate nature and method of service.