As we study this chapter remember that just as in the army, everything within the duties of the Levites was to be orderly and disciplined. This mob of people just one year ago, were fleeing from Egypt, a people that had been in bondage for the past two hundred years, and God is going to whip them into shape.

Numbers 4:2 " "Take the sum of the sons of Kohath from among the sons of Levi, after their families, by the house of their fathers,"

God is dividing the tribe of Levi into three separate groups or families, assigned according to the duties that will be given to them. These Kohathites, the sons of Levi's son Kohath were assigned to carry the furniture of the tabernacle, the ark of the covenant, the candlestick, the shewbread table, the vail, and all of these things holy things.

Numbers 4:3 "From thirty years old and upward even until fifty years old, all that enter into the host, to do the work in the tabernacle of the congregation."

All of the men of the family of Kohath from thirty years old and older were assigned to the work of tending to and carrying the furniture of the Tabernacle. Being assigned "into the host", was assigned into this army of workers, not to bear arms, but furniture. The thirty pertains to their numbering, the twenty five pertains to the service and duties at the altar. There was a five year probationary period from the time they started the heavy work of packing, moving, carrying and setting up, to the time they actually became priest, and preformed the duties of the priest. .

Numbers 4:4 "This shall be the service of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation, about the most holy things:"

I Chronicles 23:24 "These were the sons of Levi after the house of their fathers; even the chief of the fathers, as they were counted by number of names by their polls, that did the work of the service of the house of the Lord, from the age of twenty years and upward."

David made this change from the thiry years of age and older, that we are studying in Numbers 4:4.

I Chronicles 23:27 "For by the last words of David the Levites were numbered from Twenty years old and above:"

So on David's death bed He made the change and gave the reason why.

I Chronicles 23:28, 29 "Because their office was to wait on the sons of Aaron for the service of the house of the Lord, in the courts, and in the chambers, and in the purifying of all holy things, and the work of the service of the house of God;" [28] "Both for the shewbread, and for the fine flour for meat offering, and for the unleavened cakes, and for that which is baked in the pan, and for that which is fried, and for all manner of measure and size; [29]

The next three verses continue with the duties these Kohathites, tending to the prepration of the food of the offerings, duties before the altar of God, and in the maintenance and handling of those "most holy things". The age was changed because the Israelites were no longer a wandering people, but settled in their houses and farms. A nation established in their land, with fixed daily routines. All the tarring down, and carrying was over. It was work then in the kitchen doing the frying, the baking, the preparation of animals and birds for offerings, and even cutting the wood.

Numbers 4:5 "And when the camp setteth forward, Aaron shall come, and his sons, and they shall take down the covering vail, and cover the ark of testimony with it:"

Aaron and his sons only are the priests, and they were the only ones that were allowed to take down the vail and pack it for the journey. This veil separated the tabernacle at large from the inner court of the holy of holies. This veil was folded and placed over the ark of the covenant for protection. Only the priests could go into the holy of holies at moving time to prepare these vessels and the furniture for movement.

Numbers 4:6 "And shall put thereon the covering of badgers' skins, and shall spread over it a cloth wholly of blue, and shall put in the staves thereof."

On top of the veil these coverings of badger's skins were placed to protect from the elements. This clothe of blue was placed over the top, and the rod or bar handles for carrying the ark of the covenant would then be put in place. The ark of the covenant was not to be carried in wagons, but on the shoulders of the Kohathite men. The wagons were for the sake of the heavy canvases, the shittim boards, and miles of rope, silver sockets and pillars. All of the items declared as most holy, and kept in the holy of holies, were to be carried with staves by the foot of man. No man was allowed to even tough the ark and these items, and that is the reason for the long bars or rods.

Though it states "Badger's skin", in the Hebrew text the number is 8476 from Strong's Hebrew dictionary; "tachsach, takh-ask; a (clean) animal with fur, probably a species of antelope - Badger."

Numbers 4:7 "And upon the table of shewbread they shall spread a cloth of blue, and put thereon the dishes, and the spoons, and the bowls, and covers to cover withal: and the continual bread shall be thereon."

The color blue was well know for royality; the same color as covering the ark of the covenant. All of the items of the small items of the holy things were placed on the table of shewbread, and covered over for the movement.

Numbers 4:8 "And they shall spread upon them a cloth of scarlet, and cover the same with a covering of badgers' skins, and shall put the staves thereof."

Then on top of the blue cloth the priests placed a scarlet cloth, to be covered over with this white skin of this clean animal. Each of these badger skins were the same color. It must have been a wonderful site as this would be moved ahead of the massive number of Israelites as they moved through the wilderness with all their animals and goods.

Numbers 4:9 "And they shall take a cloth of blue, and cover the candlestick of the light, and his lamps, and his tongs, and his snuffdishes, and all the oil vessels thereof, wherewith they minister unto it:"

When the wrapped the other instruments of the holy of holies, they first put on this cloth of blue, and then the covering of the skin of a clean animal. Exodus 25:31 - 40 is where Moses received from God the instructions concerning the candlestick.

Numbers 4:10 "And they shall put it and all the vessels thereof within a covering of badgers' skins, and shall put it upon a bar."

Notice that these items are to be carried by these Kohathites, and not on a wagon. The "bar" was like the staves, or poles that were used to carry the ark of the covenant and the table of shewbread.

Numbers 4:11 "And upon the golden altar they shall spread a cloth of blue, and cover it with a covering of badger's skins, and shall put to the staves thereof:"

These are instructions from God as to the care of His holy things, and not Moses' or any man's. The golden altar was the altar used to burn incense.

Numbers 4:12 "And they shall take all the instruments of ministry, wherewith they minister in the sanctuary, and put them in a cloth of blue and cover them with a covering of badgers' skins, and shall put them on the bar:"

The point here is that all the vessels, furniture and things used in the Tabernacle for the ministry, will be well protected, and fit on bars or staves for carrying to the next location. The only persons allowed to do this were Aaron and his sons, the priests.

Numbers 4:13 "And they shall take away the ashes from the altar, and spread a purple cloth thereon:"

So before they moved this altar of burnt offerings, they were to take away the ashes that was on it, clean it, and spread a purple cloth on it.

Numbers 4:14 "And they shall put upon it all the vessels thereof, wherewith they minister about it, even the censers, and fleshhooks, and the shovels, and the basons, all the vessels of the altar; and they shall spread upon it a covering of badgers' skins, and put to the staves of it."

They shall put on that altar of burnt offerings all of the vessels pertaining to the ministry of the altar of burnt offerings. Included in these items are the fleshhooks for the meat, the shovels for the ashes, the basons, for cleansing the hands, and the other vessels of the altar. These items would all be packed for movement together, and covered over with the skins of the clean animal. Of course the altar had staves on it for men to carry it enroute to the next location.

Numbers 4:15 "And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the vessels of the sanctuary, as the camp is to set forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear it: but they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die. These things are the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation."

So only after Aaron and his sons had finished the preparation and wrapping of all the items, then the other sons of Kohath would come in and pick it up and carry it to the next location. This was the duty of the Kohathites for the entire journey through the wilderness. Aaron and his sons do their work and when they are finished, the Kohathites pick up and take the burden to the next location.

Numbers 4:16 "And to the office of Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest pertaineth the oil for the light, and the sweet incense, and the daily meat offering, and the anointing oil, and the oversight of all the tabernacle, and of all that therein is, in the sanctuary, and in the vessels thereof."

The oil used in the candlesticks, the incense used at the altar of incense, and all the daily meat offering, as well as the anointing oil [Olive Oil] used in the Tabernacle; were the charge or area of responsibility of Eleazar and his family, the priest given that duty.

Numbers 4:17 "And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,"

Numbers 4:18 " "Cut ye not off the tribe of the families of the Kohathites from among the Levites:"

What God is telling Moses is that when Aaron and his sons are preparing the items of the holy of holies, the ark of the covenant; don't put your brethren the Kohathites in danger. For it they viewed and touched the actual ark of the covenant, they could be struck dead.

The items of the Tabernacle of the congregation were all wrapped and covered over by Aaron and his sons; and the next area of study will be the duties of the Kohathites. The Kohathites were the ones to only move those articles of the holy of holies, but they were not to prepare or touch them before those items were ready for movement when the camp in journey.

Numbers 4:19 "But thus do unto them, that they may live, and not die, when they approach unto the most holy things: Aaron and his sons shall go in, and appoint them every one to his service and to his burden:"

It is up to Aaron and his sons to protect these Kohathites, to double check every item before it is moved to insure that these men are not struck dead by accident. Each man will be assigned a duty of work, and that work will not begin until Aaron or his sons tell him that the items are ready for movement.

Numbers 4:20 "But they shall not go in to see when the holy things are covered, lest they die." 

The holy things of God were not to be viewed by anyone other than Aaron and his sons, the priest. If these Kohathites even saw the ark of the covenant, they would die. This should read, "uncovered", instead of "covered", for when these items are covered, there is no danger of death.

Numbers 4:21 "And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,"

Numbers 4:22 " "Take also the sum of the sons of Gershon, throughout the houses of their houses of their fathers by their families;"

This is now a study of the service of the sons of Gershon, the son of Levi.

Numbers 4:23 "From thirty years old and upward until fifty years old shalt thou number them; all that enter in to perform the service, to do the work in the tabernacle of the congregation."

The Levites from the families of Gershon started to serve at the age of twenty five, but the first five years were probationary. Those priests that were on probation for that five year period were not counted in this count in verse twenty three. In the Hebrew text, "to perform the service", is "to war the warfare" Fig. "Polyptoton", "to emphasis" or "to do the important or solemn work." So even some of the members of the Levites were designated to prepare for war here. Why? in protection of the holy items in their movement.

Numbers 4:24 "This is the service of the families of the Gershonites, to serve, and for burdens:"

So these Gershonites not only were responsible for the movement of the heavy items, they also were responsible to protect these items and their families in the movement.

Numbers 4:25 "And they shall bear the curtains of the tabernacle, and the tabernacle of the congregation, his covering, and the covering of the badgers' skins that is above upon it, and the hanging for the door of the tabernacle of the congregation,"

The Gershonites were to move the curtains of the tabernacle and all the items of covering that have the badgers' skins, [a species of Antilope, or that clean animal skin] covering over it. They also are responsible for the taking down and movement of the main door of the tabernacle. This door was not the veil leading into the holy of holies.

Numbers 4:26 "And the hangings of the court, and the hanging for the door of the gate of the court, which is by the tabernacle and by the altar round about, and their cords, and all the instruments of their service, and all that is made for them: so shall they serve."

So every thing that was used for hangings in the court, and tabernacle, the material around the altar, with all the cords and instruments of service were the duties of these Gershonites. This chapter is talking about who is responsible for putting up these items and taken them down for movement. These hanging in the court and for the door would be needlework on cloth panels, and these were to be protected and moved when the camp moved. The cords talked about here are the ropes that were needed to hang these items.

Numbers 4:27 "At the appointment of Aaron and his sons shall be all the service of the sons of the Gershonites, in all their burdens, and in all their service: and ye shall appoint unto them in charge all their burdens."

Though the Gershonites were the ones to care and maintain each of these items, but their movement and direction was strictly at the order of Aaron of one of his sons. The priests told them when to pick it up, and when and where to set it down.

Numbers 4:28 "This is the service of the families of the sons of Gershon in the tabernacle of the congregation: and their charge shall be under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest."

Aaron was the high priest, with his two oldest sons being killed immediately after their anointing, by messing around with strange fire. So the two sons remaining were Eleazar [verse 16], and Ithamar, the youngest son of Aaron. Remember from Leviticus 10:1-3 Nadab and Abihu offered strange fire on the altar of the Lord, and God struck both of them dead. This verse is designating the charge or duty of this youngest son of Aaron, Ithamar.

Numbers 4:29 "As for the sons of Merari, thou shalt number them after their families, by the house of their fathers;"

Merari was the youngest son of Levi, and his families are called the Merarithites. The word "Number" as used here means to "muster" them by their families. This also is looking to a military type action for the protection of those items that they are to pack and haul.

Numbers 4:30 "From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old shalt thou number them, every one that entereth into the service, to do the work of the tabernacle of the congregation."

"The service" given here, taking back to the Hebrew text, means "warfare". There is a movement of God's people through the wilderness, and God wants men that He can count on to do their duties, and stay around to be counted on until His people move into the promise land.

Here in these end times, there is another massive movement as the world prepares for the end time crisis with Satan and his fallen angels coming to earth. Those that God can count on in these time, are those that have their spiritual armor on and in place, ready to stand against the wiles of the devil. That armor is the Word of God sealed away in our minds, so the flood of lies and deceptions flowing from Satan's mouth will be deceive you in any manner.

Numbers 4:31 "And this is the charge of their burden, according to all their service in the tabernacle of the congregation; the boards of the tabernacle, and the bars thereof, and the pillars thereof, and sockets thereof,"

So the duty of the Gershonites were the handling and movement of all the shittim board panels, that would be moved on those wagons that the tribes princes gave to Aaron and his sons. The pillars and sockets would also be moved by them.

So dating this to our generation, the pillars of the tabernacle of our day are the elect, those that make a stand for Jesus Christ the tabernacle of the body of Christ in the end times.

Numbers 4:32 "And the pillars of the court round about, and their sockets, and their pins, and their cords, with all their instruments, and with all their service: and by name ye shall reckon the instruments of the charge of their burden."

The sockets are made of silver, the pins of brass or tin, and the cords are the ropes that held everything in place. These boards were 10 cubits in length by 1 1/2 cubits in width [say 24 X 3 feet or so], and made of wood, to make them quite heavy. These panels were hauled on wagons. So the Merarites handled the structures of the tents and walls, and the sub structure with in, in their four wagons. The Gershonites then were responsible for the covering, and the lighter things; and hauled their items in two wagons.

Numbers 4:33 "This is the service of the families of the sons of Merari, according to all their service, in the tabernacle of the congregation, under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest." "

We saw the Eleazar was assigned the things that pertained to the spiritual matters of worship in the sanctuary, of the holy of holies; and here Ithamar is put in charge of tending to those heavy items of the tent structure itself. So Ithamar will be the one that both the Gershonites and these Merarites go to for their instruction for their movement and duties.

Numbers 4:34 "And Moses and Aaron and the chief of the congregation numbered the sons of the Kohathites after their families, and after the house of their fathers,"

In chapter one, we saw where one man was assigned over each of the tribes, and here the chief of the congregation for the sons of these kohathites were Moses and Aaron themselves. This numbering of the Kohathites is to take headcount or poll of each man over the age of thirty years old, up to fifty for the purpose of doing work in the congregation of the entire congregation.

Though there was another headcount earlier of the males of the tribe of Levi, but that head count was for the purpose of redemption, or redeeming the firstborn out of the other tribes. This was detailed in Numbers three. However this numbering here that Moses and Aaron will do, looks at each man's ability to serve from the age of thirty to fifty. .

Numbers 4:35 "From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every one that entereth into the service, for the work in the tabernacle of the congregation:"

Numbers 4:36 "And those that were numbered of them by their families were two thousand seven hundred and fifty."

So the Kohathites had 2,750 men in the age of 30 to 50 years old. These men were healthy enough to where they could be relied on to be of service in the tabernacle of the congregation. In the other head count, the age limit from one month older had 8,600 recorded in the King James version bible; and other translation have 8,300 males over one month. The numbers of the Hebrew are actually letters, and the two letters involved of this numbering were very close together. One could read six or it could be read three. I tend to believe that any problem in error falls back on the translator.

Later on in Numbers chapter 26, at the end of the journey the men are numbered again, before entering into the promise land. And then the numbering will be from a month old and up.

Numbers 4:37 "These were they that were numbered of the families of the Kohathites, all that might do service in the tabernacle of the congregation, which Moses and Aaron did number according to the commandment of the Lord by the hand of Moses."

Numbers 4:38 "And those that were numbered of the sons of Gershon, throughout their families, and by the house of their fathers,"

Numbers 4:39 "From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every one that entereth into the service, for the work in the tabernacle of the congregation."

In Numbers 8:25, 26, it states that after the age of fifty, these men are "to minister with their brethren". They were released from the work detail, and assigned to the duties of minister to the people around them.

Numbers 4:40 "Even those that were numbered of them, throughout their families, by the house of their fathers, were two thousand and six hundred and thirty."

The Gershonites numbered 2,630 at this time at the start of the journey, and in the one month up head count there there was 7,500 of the Gershonites.

Numbers 4:41 "These are they that were numbered of the families of the sons of Gershon, of all that might do service in the tabernacle of the congregation, whom Moses and Aaron did number according to the commandment of the Lord."

This numbering was ordered by the Lord, and not by Moses.

Numbers 4:42 "And those that were numbered of the families of the sons of Merari, throughout their families, by the house of their fathers,"

This is the last of the three division of the sons of Levi, and they are to be numbered also.

Numbers 4:43 "From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every one that entereth into the service, for the work in the tabernacle of the congregation,"

Again, the word "service" as used here, is #6635; "tsaba, tsaw-baw; To organize for war (an army); specifically for hardship or worship, at an appointed time, army, battle, host, soldier, waiting upon, war (fare)." This work will be disciplined as a soldier would be disciplined, in the task that is to be done.

Numbers 4:44 "Even those that were numbered of them after their families, were three thousand and two hundred."

The number of the Merarites were 3,200 men over the age of thirty years old to age fifty. When they were numbered from one month on, there were 6,200 males.

Numbers 4:45 "These be those that were numbered of the families of the sons of Merari, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the word of the Lord by the hand of Moses."

Again, God ordered the numbering and Moses and Aaron took the head count and recorded it on the books. There were more in this family then the other two families of the Levites, and they also had the greater work load.

Numbers 4:46 "All those that were numbered of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron and the chief of Israel numbered, after their families, and after the house of their fathers,"

Numbers 4:47 "From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, eveny one that came to do the service of the ministry, and the service of the burden in the tabernacle of the congregation,"

So this is the record of all the men of Levi that are thirty years old and upward, that are assigned to do the work and carry the burdens, just as the army of soldiers are assigned to train and prepare for their service.

Numbers 4:48 "Even those that were numbered of them, were eight thousand and five hundred and four score."

Their number was 8,580 men that was healthy and able to serve in the duties that Aaron and his sons would assign each to do.

Numbers 4:49 "According to the commandment of the Lord they were numbered by the hand of Moses, every one according to his service and according to his burden: thus were they numbered of him, as the Lord commanded Moses."

Each man was given his duty, and trained for that job as a soldier would train for war. They know were they were to be when the camp would be set up, and what their duties would be when it came time to set up camp. Just as the men twenty years old and older of the other tribes trained for their army duties, these sons of Levi trained and became competent in their duties of the tabernacle. Over the next thirty eight years there would be hundreds of times that the tabernacle and all its furniture, vessels, the altar and the ark would have to be wrapped and unwrapped to movement to the promise land.

We are moving today to another promise land, and living in that generation that will enter into that Millennium age of Christ's kingdom. But there is a lot of preparation that must take place first, to become sealed with the truth, so that we are not sidetracked by the enemy that will try to keep us from that end. We have a mission, and that mission is to be prepared with the knowledge of the signs of the end times, sealed away in our minds, to be watchmen of those events that will take place before our eye. God expects to use each of us in the capacity or our ability; and for that He as given us gifts to be used. In the body of Christ each of us are definitely not gien the same gifts, yet each is vital to the overall body of Christ. Romans 12:3 - 8 points this out, for if the eye hurts, the whole body suffers, if the arm or leg suffers, all the body suffers. So we as Christians are required to tend to the needs of the entire body of Christ.

This chapter brought out that need, as each item of those early days must be tended to in the manner and respect that God intended it. Some are appointed as soldiers, and some in wrapping the tender items. Yet, each had to do his part in that wilderness, before they all could enter into the promise land. We know that God picked the Levites to take care of the sanctuary because in Exodus 32:26, when Moses was coming down off mount Sinai, all of Israel had turned to worship the golden calf. When Moses became very hot and gave the choice, "which of you will stand on the side of God". Only the tribe of Levi came as a family, every one of them, to turn from the golden calf. So God made the selection that the tribe of Levi would be the ones to tend to his tabernacle and altar service.