Presumptuous Sin

Numbers 12:1-16

“And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman.  And they said, Hath the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? And the LORD heard it.  (Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)” (Numbers 12:1-3) 

People are always human and as such are subject to jealousy and pettiness.  We tend not to expect such behavior from those close to us, often denying it exists.  The closer we are the more painful it is to acknowledge the truth, so Satan frequently uses those closest to us to distract and destroy us.  The fact of their closeness gives more openings for attacks because they know things others don’t, and the closeness allows irritation to develop.

Moses had married an Ethiopian woman, almost certainly a black woman and Miriam and Aaron got upset about it, but since he had the right to marry whoever he wanted, they would appear petty and discriminatory to make it an issue.  Instead, They began to challenge his calling from God, saying, “Hath the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us?”

Frustrating as such attacks can be, we need to understand that God is aware of such attacks.  Notice the next statement, “(Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)”   The word meek means literally not self centered, or self seeking.  Moses was not focused on retaining his prestige, as we saw earlier from his attitude about Eldad and Medad.  He wouldn’t fight with Aaron and Miriam about their comments, to keep his prestige intact.

“And the LORD spake suddenly unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and unto Miriam, Come out ye three unto the tabernacle of the congregation. And they three came out. 


And the LORD came down in the pillar of the cloud, and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam: and they both came forth.  And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream.  My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house.  With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?” (Numbers 12:4-8)

God himself intervened on his own and Moses’ behalf, calling all three to the tabernacle, then separating Miriam and Aaron for a personal confrontation.  There he told thamn that ordinary prophets would see visions and dreams that might not be entirely clear in their meanings, often because they referred to events that had not yet happened.

The messages to Moses, on the other hand, were face to face and clear, with Moses in a position to understand and clarify any questions.  While one might question another prophet’s message, or interpretation, such a clear obvious message should not be doubted, especially as they had seen clear evidence that God spoke to him.

“And the anger of the LORD was kindled against them; and he departed.  And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and, behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow: and Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous.” (Numbers 12:9-10)

Their rejection of the one he had chosen angered God, and he pulled back from them.  For the first time since the Tabernacle had been dedicated, the pillar of cloud departed, but that wasn’t what really caught Aaron’s attention.  Miriam’s body lost the natural pigmentation making it clear she had leprosy, an incurable disease.  While far less important, the physical effects were more noticed that the spiritual impact.

“And Aaron said unto Moses, Alas, my lord, I beseech thee, lay not the sin upon us, wherein we have done foolishly, and wherein we have sinned.  Let her not be as one dead, of whom the flesh is half consumed when he cometh out of his mother's womb.” (Numbers 12:11-12) 

The physical disease, leprosy, convinced Aaron that he had done wrong in trying to seize authority for themselves and condemning Moses.  He asked forgiveness, and for healing for Miriam,

“And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, Heal her now, O God, I beseech thee. 


And the LORD said unto Moses, If her father had but spit in her face, should she not be ashamed seven days? let her be shut out from the camp seven days, and after that let her be received in again.” (Numbers 12:13-14) 

Moses prayed for God to heal Miriam, and God told him he would do so, but would suffer the same separation as any other leper for a period of seven days.  Being forgiven and healed did not immediately eliminate the consequences of her sin.  On the other hand, Just having been insulted by her father would have required just as much of an indignity, so it was comparatively a pretty light sentence for having offended God..  Even though we have been forgiven, there are always lingering natural consequences of the sin

“And Miriam was shut out from the camp seven days: and the people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in again.  And afterward the people removed from Hazeroth, and pitched in the wilderness of Paran.” (Numbers 12:15-16)

If Moses were such an un-self centered person as described here, it is unlikely he would have written the comments about how meek he was, implying that the passage was written by a more impartial observer.

They Got What They Asked For

Numbers 11:31-35

Because of the complaints and disrespect for God, he had promised they would have more meat than they could eat in a month.

“And say thou unto the people, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow, and ye shall eat flesh: for ye have wept in the ears of the LORD, saying, Who shall give us flesh to eat? for it was well with us in Egypt: therefore the LORD will give you flesh, and ye shall eat.  Ye shall not eat one day, nor two days, nor five days, neither ten days, nor twenty days; But even a whole month, until it come out at your nostrils, and it be loathsome unto you: because that ye have despised the LORD which is among you, and have wept before him, saying, Why came we forth out of Egypt?” (Numbers 11:18-20)

Even Moses had questioned God’s ability to fulfill that promise.  After all there were more than a million and a half people total, with six hundred thousand adult men.

“And Moses said, The people, among whom I am, are six hundred thousand footmen; and thou hast said, I will give them flesh, that they may eat a whole month.  Shall the flocks and the herds be slain for them, to suffice them? or shall all the fish of the sea be gathered together for them, to suffice them? 


And the LORD said unto Moses, Is the LORD'S hand waxed short? thou shalt see now whether my word shall come to pass unto thee or not.” (Numbers 11:21-23)

God had answered that he was not limited and that they would see whether God could fulfill his promise or not.

“And there went forth a wind from the LORD, and brought quails from the sea, and let them fall by the camp, as it were a day's journey on this side, and as it were a day's journey on the other side, round about the camp, and as it were two cubits high upon the face of the earth.” (Numbers 11:31)

God sent a powerful wind that swept across the sea and carried millions of quail before it.  After hours of fighting to survive, when the wind died the quail dropped exhausted to the ground around the camp.  It must have been some what like the huge hailstorms recently in northern Texas, that left piles of hail as much as six feet deep in places.  The  quail spread over an area more than a days walk on either side of the camp and in places piled up to three feet deep.  Many undoubtedly died of suffocation or being crushed, and all were exhausted and disoriented.

“And the people stood up all that day, and all that night, and all the next day, and they gathered the quails: he that gathered least gathered ten homers: and they spread them all abroad for themselves round about the camp.” (Numbers 11:32) 

The people spent about thirty six hours gathering as many quail as the could, butchering them and laying them out to dry since they had no refrigeration.  Even the slowest was able to get ten homers, or a little over ten barrels full.  An homer was approximately fifty eight gallons of water, or six and a half bushels.  It would be enough meat to sustain an individual for several months, if properly dried to prevent spoilage.   Even if only the men were involved, more than six million barrels of quail were collected.  There was no way to transport such a quantity of food, and much would be wasted.

“And while the flesh was yet between their teeth, ere it was chewed, the wrath of the LORD was kindled against the people, and the LORD smote the people with a very great plague.” (Numbers 11:33)

Such wanton greed and slaughter angered God.  Clearly they were not trusting him in their efforts to hoard the food, and the wanton destruction of so many millions of quail was quite offensive.  Even before they finished eating, God caused disease to break out, killing many thousands of them.   It is probable that God used some natural pathogen such as E. Coli or Salmonella that careless handling allowed to multiply.  God made man responsible for overseeing the world in Genesis 1:28.  “And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.”  That does not give us the right to wantonly destroy it.   Greed still results in serious consequences.

David described the situation in Psalms 106:13-15.  “They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel: But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert.  And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.”   Often getting what we want interferes with spiritual development.  It may be a curse rather than a blessing.  I suspect a large percentage of American Christians are in this state, having their physical demands but spiritually starving.

“And he called the name of that place Kibrothhattaavah: because there they buried the people that lusted.   And the people journeyed from Kibrothhattaavah unto Hazeroth; and abode at Hazeroth.” (Numbers 11:34-35)

God Responds To The Complaining

Numbers 11:16-30

“And the LORD said unto Moses, Gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be the elders of the people, and officers over them; and bring them unto the tabernacle of the congregation, that they may stand there with thee.  And I will come down and talk with thee there: and I will take of the spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone.” (Numbers 11:16-17) 

God’s response to Moses’ request to be relieved of the burden of the people’s constant complaining was to take seventy of the leaders to stand with Moses.  As John Maxwell said in one of his books, there are the people who are designated as leaders, and the ones people naturally follow.  The later are the ones God directed Moses to select because when problems arise, these are the ones people will turn to.

God would then take of the spirit that was on Moses and put it on the those leaders.  There are two important principles involved here.  First, the followers develop the same spirit, the same attitudes and standards as the leadership.  This is why it is so crucial that church leaders be filled with the Spirit, that they meet the standards laid down for pastors and deacons in I Timothy 3:1-13 and Titus 1:5-9.  They will not be able to teach others to be filled with the Spirit if they are not filled themselves.

Secondly, a spirit filled Christian has all the power of God behind him.  There is no more power, but Spirit filled Christians can encourage each other to stand strong. As Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 states, “Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.  For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.  Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?  And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”  It is one of the main reasons for the church getting together according to Hebrews 11:25.  “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”

“And say thou unto the people, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow, and ye shall eat flesh: for ye have wept in the ears of the LORD, saying, Who shall give us flesh to eat? for it was well with us in Egypt: therefore the LORD will give you flesh, and ye shall eat.  Ye shall not eat one day, nor two days, nor five days, neither ten days, nor twenty days; But even a whole month, until it come out at your nostrils, and it be loathsome unto you: because that ye have despised the LORD which is among you, and have wept before him, saying, Why came we forth out of Egypt?” (Numbers 11:18-20)

Next, God addressed the people’s complaints.  They were to be ready because God would give them the meat they were complaining about not having.  God would supply so much they wouldn’t have anything else to eat for the next month.  There would be so much it would make them all sick at their stomach and they would vomit it up before they got it all ate.

In complaining about what God had provided, they were being disrespectful toward God.  How many times do we not consider that our rejection of other people’s efforts are in fact an insult to that person.   We are offended when others do it to us but often do not consider that others are offended by our actions.  God was offended by their complaining.

“And Moses said, The people, among whom I am, are six hundred thousand footmen; and thou hast said, I will give them flesh, that they may eat a whole month.  Shall the flocks and the herds be slain for them, to suffice them? or shall all the fish of the sea be gathered together for them, to suffice them? 


And the LORD said unto Moses, Is the LORD'S hand waxed short? thou shalt see now whether my word shall come to pass unto thee or not.” (Numbers 11:21-23)

Even Moses had trouble believing that there could be so much meat available.  Even killing their entire herd of livestock wouldn’t suffice for more than a few days.  Was that What God wanted them to do?  Were they going to have to go to the Red Sea or the Persian gulf and catch all the fish in them.  The quantity required was staggering.

God’s response was that  he was not limited by how much was needed.   If Moses would just watch, he would see whether the God that had provided the manna and water in the wilderness and defeated the Egyptian army could supply.

“And Moses went out, and told the people the words of the LORD, and gathered the seventy men of the elders of the people, and set them round about the tabernacle. 


And the LORD came down in a cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the spirit that was upon him, and gave it unto the seventy elders: and it came to pass, that, when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease.” (Numbers 11:24-25) 

Moses was open about what God had told him, informing the people of God’s word.  Communication is critical if we are to successfully build people up.  Following God’s instructions he gathered seventy leaders around the Tabernacle, and God placed some of the spirit in each of them.  As a result each one began to prophesy, to tell what God had spoken, and didn’t stop.  Spirit led people will have a desire to share God’s word.

“But there remained two of the men in the camp, the name of the one was Eldad, and the name of the other Medad: and the spirit rested upon them; and they were of them that were written, but went not out unto the tabernacle: and they prophesied in the camp. 


And there ran a young man, and told Moses, and said, Eldad and Medad do prophesy in the camp. 


And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Moses, one of his young men, answered and said, My lord Moses, forbid them. 


And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the LORD'S people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit upon them!  And Moses gat him into the camp, he and the elders of Israel.” (Numbers 11:26-30) 

After being empowered by the spirit, most of the men went out to the Tabernacle to prophesy, but Eldad and Medad prophesied in the camp, and a young man rushed to tell Moses they weren‘t doing like the others.  Joshua advised Moses to stop them, fearing it was wrong or that they would weaken Moses’ leadership.

Moses recognized that God led different ones to do different things, and that we shouldn’t get upset or try to stop those who don’t do things exactly the way we are used to.  There have been huge fights among Christians because people didn’t do things exactly the same way others did.  Just because a pastor doesn’t always wear a suit and tie or they don’t sing a particular style of music doesn’t make them ungodly or wrong.

Jesus expressed the same attitude Moses had in Luke 9:49-50.  “And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us.  And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.”  Paul went even farther, stating that even if they were off in their approach, we still ought to rejoice that Christ was preached in Philippians 1;15-18.  “Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.  What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.”  Romans 14 addresses the subject at some length, telling us that we are to allow God to lead them, and not impose our own standards.  

Griping and Complaining

Numbers 11:1-15

Israel had camped aroung Mount Sinai for eight months without moving around, and it had been over a year since they had fled from Egypt.  They had gotten used to not having to do very much, and having to move every day was a nuisance.

“And when the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp.” (Numbers 11:1) 

God had delivered Israel from slavery in Egypt, overthrown the Egyptian army, divided the Red Sea for them, given victory over the Amalekites, and provided food every day for them and still they complained.  It is not hard to understand his frustration.  He sent a fire, probably similar to a brush fire, among them that killed some on the outskirts of the camp.  Many times God uses seemingly natural events to chastise his people.  

“And the people cried unto Moses; and when Moses prayed unto the LORD, the fire was quenched.  And he called the name of the place Taberah: because the fire of the LORD burnt among them.” (Numbers 11:2-3)

The people panicked when they realized they couldn’t protect themselves and turned to Moses for help.  Whatever God used to start the fire, when Moses prayed, the fire went out.  The called the place ‘burning’ because of the fire.  Unfortunately, not everyone caught on.

“And the mixed multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat? We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlic: But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes.” (Numbers 11:4-6) 

A large number of non Jews had come out of Egypt along with the Israelites.  Some were in-laws of the Jews, while others were people who had left Egypt in hopes of finding something better, but had no real ties to Israel.  With no tradition of believing God would give them a land, leaving Sinai was probably particularly troubling.  Like many others, they suddenly started remembering “the good old days,” when they had a greater variety of foods, and forgetting the other problems, such as being slaves and having their children killed.

“And the manna was as coriander seed, and the colour thereof as the colour of bdellium.  And the people went about, and gathered it, and ground it in mills, or beat it in a mortar, and baked it in pans, and made cakes of it: and the taste of it was as the taste of fresh oil.  And when the dew fell upon the camp in the night, the manna fell upon it.” (Numbers 11:7-9)

The Manna was like a grain or seed that appeared when the dew came during the night.  It could be used like any other grain, and all that was needed was to gather it each day.  The taste resembled that of fresh olive oil, implying that it was both nutritious and tasted good.  All that was required was to pick it up and prepare it each day.

Dissatisfied people tend to focus on minor issues rather than seeking the real cause of their discontent because they don‘t want to make any changes in their own lives.  It was easier and more socially acceptable to complain about the food than to admit they had were only interested in wha they could get.  Unfortunately discontent tends to spread rapidly.

“Then Moses heard the people weep throughout their families, every man in the door of his tent: and the anger of the LORD was kindled greatly; Moses also was displeased.” (Numbers 11:10)

Several years ago, A couple came to me because the wife was very upset that her husband wasn’t providing in the manner she felt he should.  She felt he should give her money to go shopping whenever she wanted to, but she insisted that if he wanted the house cleaned he should do it himself or hire someone.  She refused to cook, demanding that he take her out for every meal.   There was no way he could meet her demands without her getting a job and she refused to do that because “it was his responsibility to support her.”  It was easy to understand the husband’s frustration.

The attitude of the people was much the same and it is easy to understand God‘s anger.  It was frustrating listening to the wife’s refusal to accept any responsibility, and Moses was frustrated by the people’s complaining.

“And Moses said unto the LORD, Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant? and wherefore have I not found favour in thy sight, that thou layest the burden of all this people upon me?  Have I conceived all this people? have I begotten them, that thou shouldest say unto me, Carry them in thy bosom, as a nursing father beareth the sucking child, unto the land which thou swarest unto their fathers?  Whence should I have flesh to give unto all this people? for they weep unto me, saying, Give us flesh, that we may eat.  I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me.  And if thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray thee, out of hand, if I have found favour in thy sight; and let me not see my wretchedness.” (Numbers 11:11-15)

Frustration led to Moses complaining himself.  Why should he have to put up with their constant demands?  How can he supply what they want?  At the moment he’d rather be dead than keep dealing with their complaints.  Many pastors become similarly impatient and frustrated by their people’s lack of spiritual growth.  They forget that they are only dealing with the frustration at the moment, just as I only had to deal with the momentary frustration of the wife in the story refusing to listen to my advice.  Like the husband, God has to deal with the refusal to do what they should every day.  

Jethro Invited to Come Along

Numbers 10:29-34

“And Moses said unto Hobab, the son of Raguel the Midianite, Moses' father in law, We are journeying unto the place of which the LORD said, I will give it you: come thou with us, and we will do thee good: for the LORD hath spoken good concerning Israel.  And he said unto him, I will not go; but I will depart to mine own land, and to my kindred. ” (Numbers 10:29-30) 

Exodus 18:5-7 states, “And Jethro, Moses' father in law, came with his sons and his wife unto Moses into the wilderness, where he encamped at the mount of God: And he said unto Moses, I thy father in law Jethro am come unto thee, and thy wife, and her two sons with her.   And Moses let his father in law depart; and he went his way into his own land.”  As a result, some have concluded that Hobab was Moses’ brother in law.  However, Judges 4:11 makes it clear that Hobab is in fact Moses Father in law.  “Now Heber the Kenite, which was of the children of Hobab the father in law of Moses, had severed himself from the Kenites, and pitched his tent unto the plain of Zaanaim, which is by Kedesh.”  

Jethro is repeatedly referred to as Jethro, the priest of Midian.  Jethro means “his excellence”, and is a title rather than a name.   Hobab means “cherished,” and is his name.   His visit in Exodus 18 ended with his returning to his home in Midian.  That he has returned a few month later makes it clear the distance from Sinai to Midian is small, as does the fact that Moses had herded Jethro’s sheep on Mount Sinai.  The location of Mount Sinai in the present day Sinai peninsula would require going north around the end of the Gulf of Aqaba before going south to the mountain, adding several days travel toe the trip.  Present day Jebal Al Laws is only a couple days Journey from Midian, further supporting our belief that this is the Mount Sinai of the Old Testament.

“And he said, Leave us not, I pray thee; forasmuch as thou knowest how we are to encamp in the wilderness, and thou mayest be to us instead of eyes.  And it shall be, if thou go with us, yea, it shall be, that what goodness the LORD shall do unto us, the same will we do unto thee.” (Numbers 10:31-32)

Moses knew that Jethro was even more familiar with the region then he was himself, and asked Jethro to accompany them as a scout or guide.  Whatever blessings God might give Israel would benefit Hobab as well.  More than forty years later, Judges 1:16 describes his descendants accompanying the tribe of Judah.  “And the children of the Kenite, Moses' father in law, went up out of the city of palm trees with the children of Judah into the wilderness of Judah, which lieth in the south of Arad; and they went and dwelt among the people.”  Apparently, this time he decided to stay with them.

Remember that many Midianites were descendants of Ishmael according to Genesis 37:28.  “Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.”  They were descendants of Abraham, and still had some knowledge of God, so there was both blood ties and cultural similarity.

“And they departed from the mount of the LORD three days' journey: and the ark of the covenant of the LORD went before them in the three days' journey, to search out a resting place for them.  And the cloud of the LORD was upon them by day, when they went out of the camp.” (Numbers 10:33-34) 

Here is another little detail, that the men bearing the ark led the entire march, following the pillar of cloud.  This first move was a three day journey from mount Sinai into the wilderness of Paran.

“And it came to pass, when the ark set forward, that Moses said, Rise up, LORD, and let thine enemies be scattered; and let them that hate thee flee before thee.  And when it rested, he said, Return, O LORD, unto the many thousands of Israel.” (Numbers 10:35-36)

Each day when the cloud led them out and when it stopped Moses pronounced a blessing on the Lord, acknowledging his direction.  

Resuming Their Journey

Numbers 10:11-28

“And it came to pass on the twentieth day of the second month, in the second year, that the cloud was taken up from off the tabernacle of the testimony.  And the children of Israel took their journeys out of the wilderness of Sinai; and the cloud rested in the wilderness of Paran.  And they first took their journey according to the commandment of the LORD by the hand of Moses.” (Numbers 10:11-13)

Thirteen months after crossing the Red Sea, Israel finally moved away from mount Sinai into the wilderness of Paran, a desert area on the north and east sides of Midian on the east coast of the Gulf of Aqaba.  That it is on the east side of Jordan  and not in the modern Sinai Peninsula is pretty clear from Deuteronomy 1:1.  They followed the cloud exactly as it led them.

“In the first place went the standard of the camp of the children of Judah according to their armies: and over his host was Nahshon the son of Amminadab.  And over the host of the tribe of the children of Issachar was Nethaneel the son of Zuar.  And over the host of the tribe of the children of Zebulun was Eliab the son of Helon.” (Numbers 10:14-16)

As God had specified in Numbers 2, the tribe of Judah led the march, followed by Issachar and Zebulon.

“And the tabernacle was taken down; and the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari set forward, bearing the tabernacle.” (Numbers 10:17)

Immediately after the tribe of Zebulon, came the men of the family of Gershon with the wagons carrying the coverings for the Tabernacle, and the men of Merari’s family with the wagons carrying the framework.  Once they had moved out, the second alarm would be sounded to signal the camp of Reuben to fall into line.  This detail was not given in Numbers 2.

“And the standard of the camp of Reuben set forward according to their armies: and over his host was Elizur the son of Shedeur.  And over the host of the tribe of the children of Simeon was Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.  And over the host of the tribe of the children of Gad was Eliasaph the son of Deuel.” (Numbers 10:18-20) 

The tribe of Reuben was followed by the tribe s of Simeon and Gad.  Each group had their own leader to maintain order similar to the old wagon masters of wagon train fame.

“And the Kohathites set forward, bearing the sanctuary: and the other did set up the tabernacle against they came.” (Numbers 10:21)

The Kohath Levites would follow the tribe of Gad, carrying the furniture and implements of worship.  They were accompanied by the priests and the families of the Levites.  By the time they arrived at their destination, the Gershonites and Merarites would have the Tabernacle set up and ready for the furnishings to be placed in it.  The others could then concentrate on setting up their family’s camps without delay.

“And the standard of the camp of the children of Ephraim set forward according to their armies: and over his host was Elishama the son of Ammihud.  And over the host of the tribe of the children of Manasseh was Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.  And over the host of the tribe of the children of Benjamin was Abidan the son of Gideoni. 


And the standard of the camp of the children of Dan set forward, which was the rereward of all the camps throughout their hosts: and over his host was Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.  And over the host of the tribe of the children of Asher was Pagiel the son of Ocran.  And over the host of the tribe of the children of Naphtali was Ahira the son of Enan.” (Numbers 10:22-27) 

The tribe of Ephraim followed the Levites followed by Manasseh and Benjamin.  Finally the group camped to the north swung into line, led by the tribe of Dan.  Such  careful planning the order of march would make for efficient movement similar to the movement of modern military forces.  It would be essential to move such a large group very far.

“Thus were the journeyings of the children of Israel according to their armies, when they set forward.” (Numbers 10:28)

The Silver Trumpets

Numbers 10:1-10

“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Make thee two trumpets of silver; of a whole piece shalt thou make them: that thou mayest use them for the calling of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps.” (Numbers 10:1-2) 

With more than a million people, communication becomes a problem.  Throughout history, because their loud penetrating sound can be heard for long distances, trumpets and horns have been used to communicate with large or widely spread groups by many cultures.  God directed Moses to make two trumpets of silver for communicating with the people.   The shape and material it is made of affect the tone of a trumpet, and most trumpets of the time were made of rams horns.  The silver ones would have a different and readily identifiable sound.

“And when they shall blow with them, all the assembly shall assemble themselves to thee at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.  And if they blow but with one trumpet, then the princes, which are heads of the thousands of Israel, shall gather themselves unto thee.” (Numbers 10:3-4)

If both trumpets were blown, the entire congregation was to assemble, but if only one sounded, only the council of leaders were summoned to meet.  It was a simple and easily identified signal that the entire congregation could understand.

“When ye blow an alarm, then the camps that lie on the east parts shall go forward.  When ye blow an alarm the second time, then the camps that lie on the south side shall take their journey: they shall blow an alarm for their journeys.  But when the congregation is to be gathered together, ye shall blow, but ye shall not sound an alarm.” (Numbers 10:5-7)

When preparing for march, a particular alarm signal was played to tell the camp of Judah, composed of the tribes of Judah, Issachar and Zebulon to move out.  When the alarm sounded the second time, the camp of  Reuben, composed of the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Simeon would move out.  They would be followed by Moses and the Levites, and the other camps were to fall in behind them.  The later groups would not need a signal as they could see when the group before them passed by.  The alarm was only to be used when setting out to march, or in emergencies.  It was not to be blown in regular assemblies.

“And the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow with the trumpets; and they shall be to you for an ordinance for ever throughout your generations.” (Numbers 10:8) 

The priests were responsible for communication with the people, and that responsibility was to be theirs as long as there was a nation of Israel.

“And if ye go to war in your land against the enemy that oppresseth you, then ye shall blow an alarm with the trumpets; and ye shall be remembered before the LORD your God, and ye shall be saved from your enemies.” (Numbers 10:9) 

When going into battle they were to sound their alarm, and know that God was with them and would save them from their enemies.  Several times when God revealed himself to Israel in Exodus, he did so with the prolonged sound of a trumpet, and the sound of the trumpet was to remind them of their covenant with God.

“Also in the day of your gladness, and in your solemn days, and in the beginnings of your months, ye shall blow with the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; that they may be to you for a memorial before your God: I am the LORD your God.” (Numbers 10:10)

The trumpets were also to be sounded in celebrations and holy days, and on the first of the month, again reminding them of God revealing himself and making his covenant with them.  They were to be sounded over various offerings to God.  Unfortunately, the Jews had perverted the practice to glorifying themselves rather than God in Jesus’ day, which is what he condemned in Matthew 6:1-4.  It is the attitude and intent, rather than the action itself which makes it pleasing to God.

The use of the trumpets to communicate is also referred to in I Corinthians 14:8-9 in explaining the proper place and use of tongues in the church.  “For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?  So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.”  As Paul explains, a signal has no value unless people understand what it means.  God intended the people to know what was said.

God’s Daily Direction

Numbers 9:15-23

“And on the day that the tabernacle was reared up the cloud covered the tabernacle, namely, the tent of the testimony: and at even there was upon the tabernacle as it were the appearance of fire, until the morning.  So it was alway: the cloud covered it by day, and the appearance of fire by night.” (Numbers 9:15-16) 

The word tabernacle means literally a residence or dwelling place, but was usually used to refer to a tent.  The Tabernacle itself was technically a tent, depending on a fabric type covering for protection from the weather.  It housed the covenant or contract between God and Israel.  It was also the place God had chosen to fill with his glory and manifest himself to the people.  One of the ways he manifested his presence was by the pillar of cloud on the Tabernacle during the day and of fire at night.

“And when the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle, then after that the children of Israel journeyed: and in the place where the cloud abode, there the children of Israel pitched their tents.  At the commandment of the LORD the children of Israel journeyed, and at the commandment of the LORD they pitched: as long as the cloud abode upon the tabernacle they rested in their tents.” (Numbers 9:17-18)

God manifested his directions for Israel by lifting the cloud or fire off the Tabernacle to indicate they were to prepare to move to another location.   Each day God indicated what they were to do for that day.  Just as Abraham was not told in advance where he was to go, but was to trust God day by day, Israel was trust God day by day.  Christians today are expected to do the same.

Romans 14:23 states, “…for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.”  James 4:13-16 points out that the idea of rigidly committing to long range plans is in fact evil.  “Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.  For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.  But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.”  

“And when the cloud tarried long upon the tabernacle many days, then the children of Israel kept the charge of the LORD, and journeyed not.  And so it was, when the cloud was a few days upon the tabernacle; according to the commandment of the LORD they abode in their tents, and according to the commandment of the LORD they journeyed. 


And so it was, when the cloud abode from even unto the morning, and that the cloud was taken up in the morning, then they journeyed: whether it was by day or by night that the cloud was taken up, they journeyed.  Or whether it were two days, or a month, or a year, that the cloud tarried upon the tabernacle, remaining thereon, the children of Israel abode in their tents, and journeyed not: but when it was taken up, they journeyed.” (Numbers 9:19-22)

God might direct Israel to move by day or by night, and they might remain for just a couple of days or a year or more, solely at God’s pleasure.  It is a lesson we need to learn about trusting and obeying God.  How many of us decide we’ve been in a place long enough, or hesitate to leave because we like it here?  How easy is it for us to judge others for their actions when we have no clue what God is directing them to do?  Romans 14:4 asks, “Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.”

“At the commandment of the LORD they rested in the tents, and at the commandment of the LORD they journeyed: they kept the charge of the LORD, at the commandment of the LORD by the hand of Moses.” (Numbers 9:23)

Israel’s movements might seem erratic to us, but they were obeying God in each place they went, and in the way they kept his commandments.

A Special Situation

Numbers 9:1-14

“And the LORD spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the first month of the second year after they were come out of the land of Egypt, saying, Let the children of Israel also keep the passover at his appointed season.  In the fourteenth day of this month, at even, ye shall keep it in his appointed season: according to all the rites of it, and according to all the ceremonies thereof, shall ye keep it. 


And Moses spake unto the children of Israel, that they should keep the passover.  And they kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the first month at even in the wilderness of Sinai: according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so did the children of Israel.” (Numbers 9:1-5)

The first nine chapters of Numbers all take place during the first month of the second year after Israel departed from Egypt.  The Tabernacle was erected on the first day of the month, and God instructed them to celebrate the Passover on the fourteenth day of the month, following the instructions in Exodus 12.  

“And there were certain men, who were defiled by the dead body of a man, that they could not keep the passover on that day: and they came before Moses and before Aaron on that day: And those men said unto him, We are defiled by the dead body of a man: wherefore are we kept back, that we may not offer an offering of the LORD in his appointed season among the children of Israel?” (Numbers 9:6-7) 

Those who had contact with a dead body were to remain in quarantine for seven days to be sure they had not contracted the disease that killed the other person, and someone had died, causing a few men to be unable to participate in the Passover with their families.  Exodus 12:46-47 commands, “In one house shall it be eaten; thou shalt not carry forth ought of the flesh abroad out of the house; neither shall ye break a bone thereof.  All the congregation of Israel shall keep it.”  Since it couldn’t be taken to them, but all jews were supposed to partake, this created a conflict.

“And Moses said unto them, Stand still, and I will hear what the LORD will command concerning you.” (Numbers 9:8) 

Rather than giving them his opinion or getting a group of leaders together to decide, Moses asked God what should be done in this situation.  In Acts 15, the Apostles met to discuss what Jesus had taught about the need for circumcision, but they were not formulating some new doctrine, simply verifying what they had been taught.  They were not formulating doctrine themselves.

“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If any man of you or of your posterity shall be unclean by reason of a dead body, or be in a journey afar off, yet he shall keep the passover unto the LORD.  The fourteenth day of the second month at even they shall keep it, and eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.  They shall leave none of it unto the morning, nor break any bone of it: according to all the ordinances of the passover they shall keep it.  But the man that is clean, and is not in a journey, and forbeareth to keep the passover, even the same soul shall be cut off from among his people: because he brought not the offering of the LORD in his appointed season, that man shall bear his sin.” (Numbers 9:9-13) 

God’s response was that those who were unable to keep the Passover on the proper date would be allowed to keep it one month later, on the fourteenth day of the second month, but anyone who could and failed to do so was to be segregated from the congregation because he refused to perform his responsibility as a Jew at the proper time.  The second date was solely for those who were unable to partake at the proper time.

“And if a stranger shall sojourn among you, and will keep the passover unto the LORD; according to the ordinance of the passover, and according to the manner thereof, so shall he do: ye shall have one ordinance, both for the stranger, and for him that was born in the land.” (Numbers 9:14)

Once again it was stressed that anyone who wished to participate was required to follow the same guidelines.  While God made provision for special unavoidable situations so everyone could be included, he did not change the requirements for those from different backgrounds, nor were they given the p[rivilege of choosing which time they chose to participate.

Dedicating The Levites

Numbers 7:89-8:26

“And when Moses was gone into the tabernacle of the congregation to speak with him, then he heard the voice of one speaking unto him from off the mercy seat that was upon the ark of testimony, from between the two cherubims: and he spake unto him.” (Numbers 7:89) 

This was a fulfillment of the promise in Exodus 25:22.  “And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.”

“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto Aaron, and say unto him, When thou lightest the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light over against the candlestick. 


And Aaron did so; he lighted the lamps thereof over against the candlestick, as the LORD commanded Moses.  And this work of the candlestick was of beaten gold, unto the shaft thereof, unto the flowers thereof, was beaten work: according unto the pattern which the LORD had showed Moses, so he made the candlestick.” (Numbers 8:1-4)

The two words translated over against have a wide range of meanings, but used together, one meaning is “from”.  The implication is that the lamps were to be placed on the candlestick immediately upon lighting them to give maximum light.

“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Take the Levites from among the children of Israel, and cleanse them.  And thus shalt thou do unto them, to cleanse them: Sprinkle water of purifying upon them, and let them shave all their flesh, and let them wash their clothes, and so make themselves clean.  Then let them take a young bullock with his meat offering, even fine flour mingled with oil, and another young bullock shalt thou take for a sin offering. 


And thou shalt bring the Levites before the tabernacle of the congregation: and thou shalt gather the whole assembly of the children of Israel together: And thou shalt bring the Levites before the LORD: and the children of Israel shall put their hands upon the Levites: And Aaron shall offer the Levites before the LORD for an offering of the children of Israel, that they may execute the service of the LORD.  And the Levites shall lay their hands upon the heads of the bullocks: and thou shalt offer the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering, unto the LORD, to make an atonement for the Levites.  And thou shalt set the Levites before Aaron, and before his sons, and offer them for an offering unto the LORD.” (Numbers 8:5-13) 

Before they could serve, the Levites had to shave their entire bodies, wash themselves and put on clean clothes, and be sprinkled with water from the laver. They were then brought before the entire congregation and the children of Israel would lay their hands on them, identifying them as their places in service to God. Aaron would offer them to God as an offering to perform the necessary service for God.

The Levites were then to place their hands on the heads of the bullocks, identifying them as a substitute sacrifice for themselves, and one would be offered as a sin offering while the other was a burnt offering to make atonement for the Levites.  Once their sin had been dealt with they were acceptable for service.

“Thus shalt thou separate the Levites from among the children of Israel: and the Levites shall be mine.  And after that shall the Levites go in to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation: and thou shalt cleanse them, and offer them for an offering.  For they are wholly given unto me from among the children of Israel; instead of such as open every womb, even instead of the firstborn of all the children of Israel, have I taken them unto me.  For all the firstborn of the children of Israel are mine, both man and beast: on the day that I smote every firstborn in the land of Egypt I sanctified them for myself. 


And I have taken the Levites for all the firstborn of the children of Israel.  And I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and to his sons from among the children of Israel, to do the service of the children of Israel in the tabernacle of the congregation, and to make an atonement for the children of Israel: that there be no plague among the children of Israel, when the children of Israel come nigh unto the sanctuary.” (Numbers 8:14-19)

God had spared the firstborn of Israel when the death angel passed through Egypt because they applied the blood of the Passover lamb to the doorposts, but he claimed all the firstborn males as his.  The Levites were given to the Lord as a substitute for all those firstborn.  As long as they fulfilled the duties of making the sacrifices and taking the other’s places God would protect Israel from plagues when they approached the Tabernacle.


“And Moses, and Aaron, and all the congregation of the children of Israel, did to the Levites according unto all that the LORD commanded Moses concerning the Levites, so did the children of Israel unto them.  And the Levites were purified, and they washed their clothes; and Aaron offered them as an offering before the LORD; and Aaron made an atonement for them to cleanse them. 


And after that went the Levites in to do their service in the tabernacle of the congregation before Aaron, and before his sons: as the LORD had commanded Moses concerning the Levites, so did they unto them. 


And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, This is it that belongeth unto the Levites: from twenty and five years old and upward they shall go in to wait upon the service of the tabernacle of the congregation: And from the age of fifty years they shall cease waiting upon the service thereof, and shall serve no more: But shall minister with their brethren in the tabernacle of the congregation, to keep the charge, and shall do no service. Thus shalt thou do unto the Levites touching their charge.” (Numbers 8:20-26) 

From the age of twenty five until they were fifty, the Levites were to devote their lives to the physical work of the tabernacle, carrying it, making repairs and carrying sacrifices and similar work.  After the age of fifty, they were to help with the ministry, helping in offering sacrifices and teaching, but no longer doing the physical labor.  It is interesting that those charged with moving the tabernacle itself were to be at least thirty.

Offerings For the Dedication Of The Tabernacle

Numbers 7:10-88

“And the princes offered for dedicating of the altar in the day that it was anointed, even the princes offered their offering before the altar.  And the LORD said unto Moses, They shall offer their offering, each prince on his day, for the dedicating of the altar.” (Numbers 7:10-11) 

The tabernacle was set up two weeks before the first commemoration of the Passover.  It was sanctified following Gods instructions, then for the next twelve days, the leader of one of the tribes offered an offering for the dedication of the Tabernacle each day.  It was a time of great celebration.

“And he that offered his offering the first day was Nahshon the son of Amminadab, of the tribe of Judah: And his offering was one silver charger, the weight thereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them were full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering: One spoon of ten shekels of gold, full of incense: One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering: One kid of the goats for a sin offering: And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Nahshon the son of Amminadab.” (Numbers 7:12-17) 

The leader of the tribe of Judah made the first offering, providing everything that was needed for that day’s sacrifices, and including a silver charger or cup and a bowl to contain the fine flour and a gold spoon to contain the incense that was to be offered.  The bowl, charger, and spoon would then be retained for use in the Tabernacle.  Each day thereafter the leader of another tribe would provide a similar offering for the daily sacrifice.  No one gave more or less.

“On the second day Nethaneel the son of Zuar, prince of Issachar, did offer: He offered for his offering one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering: One spoon of gold of ten shekels, full of incense: One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering: One kid of the goats for a sin offering: And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Nethaneel the son of Zuar.” (Numbers 7:18-23) 


“On the third day Eliab the son of Helon, prince of the children of Zebulun, did offer: His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering: One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense: One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering: One kid of the goats for a sin offering: And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Eliab the son of Helon.” (Numbers 7:24-29)

“On the fourth day Elizur the son of Shedeur, prince of the children of Reuben, did offer: His offering was one silver charger of the weight of an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering: One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense: One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering: One kid of the goats for a sin offering: And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Elizur the son of Shedeur.” (Numbers 7:30-35)

“On the fifth day Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai, prince of the children of Simeon, did offer: His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering: One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense: One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering: One kid of the goats for a sin offering: And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.” (Numbers 7:36-41)

“On the sixth day Eliasaph the son of Deuel, prince of the children of Gad, offered: His offering was one silver charger of the weight of an hundred and thirty shekels, a silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering: One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense: One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering: One kid of the goats for a sin offering: And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Eliasaph the son of Deuel.” (Numbers 7:42-47)

“On the seventh day Elishama the son of Ammihud, prince of the children of Ephraim, offered: His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering: One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense: One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering: One kid of the goats for a sin offering: And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Elishama the son of Ammihud.” (Numbers 7:48-53)

“On the eighth day offered Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur, prince of the children of Manasseh: His offering was one silver charger of the weight of an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering: One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense: Nu 7:57 One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering: One kid of the goats for a sin offering: And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur. ” (Numbers 7:54-59)


“On the ninth day Abidan the son of Gideoni, prince of the children of Benjamin, offered: His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering: One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense: One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering: One kid of the goats for a sin offering: And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Abidan the son of Gideoni. ” (Numbers 7:60-65)

“On the tenth day Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai, prince of the children of Dan, offered: His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering: One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense: One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering: One kid of the goats for a sin offering: And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai. (Numbers 7:66-71)


“On the eleventh day Pagiel the son of Ocran, prince of the children of Asher, offered: His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering: One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense: One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering: One kid of the goats for a sin offering: And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Pagiel the son of Ocran.” (Numbers 7:72-77)


“On the twelfth day Ahira the son of Enan, prince of the children of Naphtali, offered: His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering: One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense: One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering: One kid of the goats for a sin offering: And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Ahira the son of Enan.” (Numbers 7:78-83)

Verses 84-88 sum up the dedication offerings by the twelve leaders.

“This was the dedication of the altar, in the day when it was anointed, by the princes of Israel: twelve chargers of silver, twelve silver bowls, twelve spoons of gold: Each charger of silver weighing an hundred and thirty shekels, each bowl seventy: all the silver vessels weighed two thousand and four hundred shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary: The golden spoons were twelve, full of incense, weighing ten shekels apiece, after the shekel of the sanctuary: all the gold of the spoons was an hundred and twenty shekels. 

All the oxen for the burnt offering were twelve bullocks, the rams twelve, the lambs of the first year twelve, with their meat offering: and the kids of the goats for sin offering twelve.  And all the oxen for the sacrifice of the peace offerings were twenty and four bullocks, the rams sixty, the he goats sixty, the lambs of the first year sixty. This was the dedication of the altar, after that it was anointed.” (Numbers 7: 84-88) 

Wagons For Transporting The Tabernacle

Numbers 6:22-7:9

“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them, The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: Nu 6:25 The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.  And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them.” (Numbers 6:22-27)

In Matthew 6, Jesus was teaching the disciples about prayer, and gave them an example or model of what prayer should be like, the so called Lord’s Prayer found in Matthew 6:9-13.  “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.  Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread.  And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.”

They were not commanded to pray that prayer, but to pray in a similar manner.  In directing how to bless Israel, God directs the priests to bless them in this fashion or manner, not to use those specific words.  In doing so, they will be giving God the credit and glory for what he does, and he promised to bless them in return.  Unfortunately man too often makes this a ritual in which the glory goes to the one performing the ritual for doing it properly instead.

“And it came to pass on the day that Moses had fully set up the tabernacle, and had anointed it, and sanctified it, and all the instruments thereof, both the altar and all the vessels thereof, and had anointed them, and sanctified them; That the princes of Israel, heads of the house of their fathers, who were the princes of the tribes, and were over them that were numbered, offered: And they brought their offering before the LORD, six covered wagons, and twelve oxen; a wagon for two of the princes, and for each one an ox: and they brought them before the tabernacle.” (Numbers 7:1-3)

The wheel had been invented many hundreds of years before, and the leaders recognized the difficulty of transporting the parts of the tabernacle as they would be very heavy and awkward to carry.  God laid it on their hearts to have six wagons built for the purpose, with the leaders of each tribe meeting and sharing the responsibilities.  Each one donated half the cost of a wagon and one ox to pull it.

“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Take it of them, that they may be to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation; and thou shalt give them unto the Levites, to every man according to his service.  And Moses took the wagons and the oxen, and gave them unto the Levites.  Two wagons and four oxen he gave unto the sons of Gershon, according to their service: And four wagons and eight oxen he gave unto the sons of Merari, according unto their service, under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.” (Numbers 7:4-8) 

Two wagons were given to the Gershonites to haul the coverings of the Tabernacle and the curtains for the courtyard, while four were given to the Sons of Merari to haul the boards, poles, tent pegs and sockets or bases for everything.

“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)

No wagons were given to the Kohathites because their responsibility required personal service.  While technology is great for many things, there are areas which are dependent on personal individualized work.  When they used a wagon to transport the Ark in II Samuel 6, Uzzah was killed because the technology used exposed him to an unnecessary danger.  As an example, while watching a religious program on television may seem like a great religious and emotional experience, it will not produce the same spiritual effect as personally interacting with Christians at a church and weakening the Christian.  Though the messages may seem better, they are limited by a lack of personal interaction.

The Nazarite Vow

Numbers 6:1-27

“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When either man or woman shall separate themselves to vow a vow of a Nazarite, to separate themselves unto the LORD: He shall separate himself from wine and strong drink, and shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any liquor of grapes, nor eat moist grapes, or dried.  All the days of his separation shall he eat nothing that is made of the vine tree, from the kernels even to the husk.” (Numbers 6:1-4) 

The Nazarite vow was a commitment to devote oneself to God for a specified period, seeking a closer relationship and devoting one to service.  It was the vow Paul had taken descrived in Acts 18:18.  “And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow.”   Other Christians had taken the same vow in Acts 21:23-24.  “Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which have a vow on them; Them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law.”

“All the days of the vow of his separation there shall no razor come upon his head: until the days be fulfilled, in the which he separateth himself unto the LORD, he shall be holy, and shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow.” (Numbers 6:5) 

Many have taught that Jesus had to wear his hair long because he was a Nazarite.  In fact he was not a Nazarite, but a Nazarene, meaning he was from Nazareth.  Nazarites were forbidden eat or drink anything made of grapes, but Jesus himself said, “For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil.  The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners…,” in Matthew 11:18-19.  While John may have been a Nazarite, Jesus clearly was not.   The scripture gives no evidence as to the length of Jesus hair except to indicate it was probably similar to that of others of the time.   The pictures of him wearing long hair all stem from paintings many centuries later.

We know from I Corinthians 11:14-15 that it was considered a shame for a man to have his hair long or for a woman to shave her head.  "Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering."  By taking the Nazarite vow, the person was accepting the shame of going against the accepted norm, just as the Christian is to bear the reproach of being a Christian according to Hebrews 13:13. "Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach."

“All the days that he separateth himself unto the LORD he shall come at no dead body.  He shall not make himself unclean for his father, or for his mother, for his brother, or for his sister, when they die: because the consecration of his God is upon his head.  All the days of his separation he is holy unto the LORD.” (Numbers 6:6-8) 

In addition to not cutting his hair or partaking of anything from the grape vine, the Nazarite was forbidden to touch or associate with any dead body, even those of his immediate family.  Jesus regularly broke this requirement, as illustrated in Matthew 9:23-25, when raising the ruler’s daughter.  “And when Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise, He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn.  But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose.”

“And if any man die very suddenly by him, and he hath defiled the head of his consecration; then he shall shave his head in the day of his cleansing, on the seventh day shall he shave it.  And on the eighth day he shall bring two turtles, or two young pigeons, to the priest, to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: And the priest shall offer the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering, and make an atonement for him, for that he sinned by the dead, and shall hallow his head that same day.  And he shall consecrate unto the LORD the days of his separation, and shall bring a lamb of the first year for a trespass offering: but the days that were before shall be lost, because his separation was defiled.” (Numbers  6:9-12)

If a Nazarite accidentally came in contact with a dead person, he was to observe the standard seven day quarantine, then follow the standard cleansing ritual, shaving his head and bringing both a sin offering and a burnt offering for having broken his vow.  The time spent in quarantine was not to be counted as part of fulfilling his vow.  This was the requirement, for either man or woman making the vow.

“And this is the law of the Nazarite, when the days of his separation are fulfilled: he shall be brought unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: And he shall offer his offering unto the LORD, one he lamb of the first year without blemish for a burnt offering, and one ewe lamb of the first year without blemish for a sin offering, and one ram without blemish for peace offerings, And a basket of unleavened bread, cakes of fine flour mingled with oil, and wafers of unleavened bread anointed with oil, and their meat offering, and their drink offerings. 


And the priest shall bring them before the LORD, and shall offer his sin offering, and his burnt offering: And he shall offer the ram for a sacrifice of peace offerings unto the LORD, with the basket of unleavened bread: the priest shall offer also his meat offering, and his drink offering.” (Numbers 6:13-17)

Upon fulfilling his vow, the Nazarite was to offer a burnt offering of a yearling male lamb, a sin offering of a yearling ewe lamb, and a mature ram for a peace offering.  All had to be without any deformities or sickness.  These were to be accompanied with unleavened bread, cakes, and wafers, as well as a drink offering.

“And the Nazarite shall shave the head of his separation at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and shall take the hair of the head of his separation, and put it in the fire which is under the sacrifice of the peace offerings.” (Numbers 6:18)

It appears from Acts 18:18 and 21:23-24 that the Nazarite shaved his head upon taking the vow then again at completion.  The hair that was shaved off at the end was then burned along with the peace offering, seemingly as a symbol of having given that time to God.

“And the priest shall take the sodden shoulder of the ram, and one unleavened cake out of the basket, and one unleavened wafer, and shall put them upon the hands of the Nazarite, after the hair of his separation is shaven: And the priest shall wave them for a wave offering before the LORD: this is holy for the priest, with the wave breast and heave shoulder: and after that the Nazarite may drink wine.  This is the law of the Nazarite who hath vowed, and of his offering unto the LORD for his separation, beside that that his hand shall get: according to the vow which he vowed, so he must do after the law of his separation.” (Numbers 6:19-21) 

Once the terms of his vow had been fulfilled, and shown complete by the closing sacrifices, the Nazarite was free to resume his normal life.

The Nazarite vow illustrates the commitment required if one is to truly follow Christ.  In fact, Luke 14:26 states, “If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.”  As Matthew 10:37 says, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.”  Our relationship with Christ will be directly related to our choices whether to yield to his will or have our own way.

Implementation Of The Law

Disease Prevention
Numbers 5:1-4

“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Command the children of Israel, that they put out of the camp every leper, and every one that hath an issue, and whosoever is defiled by the dead: Both male and female shall ye put out, without the camp shall ye put them; that they defile not their camps, in the midst whereof I dwell. And the children of Israel did so, and put them out without the camp: as the LORD spake unto Moses, so did the children of Israel.” (Numbers 5:1-4) 

Those who were infected with leprosy, and those who had been exposed to fatal infections were to be quarantined to prevent the spread of disease.  The entire camp would thus avoid contamination.  Jewish populations avoided many of the plagues that ravaged Europe during the Dark Ages because they practiced such policies.

Leviticus goes into great detail about the law, and was written during this period.  Numbers focuses on the events rather than the law itself, giving us details of how the law was integrated into the people’s lives during the stay in the wilderness.

Restitution
Numbers 5:5-10

“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, When a man or woman shall commit any sin that men commit, to do a trespass against the LORD, and that person be guilty; Then they shall confess their sin which they have done: and he shall recompense his trespass with the principal thereof, and add unto it the fifth part thereof, and give it unto him against whom he hath trespassed.  But if the man have no kinsman to recompense the trespass unto, let the trespass be recompensed unto the LORD, even to the priest; beside the ram of the atonement, whereby an atonement shall be made for him.” (Numbers 5:5-8)

When a person had done wrong to someone else, he was to make full restitution, including twenty percent interest, acknowledging their guilt.  If the victim had died, restitution was to be made to his heirs, or if no heirs survived it was to be donated to God.  In addition he was to offer a ram for an atonement.

“And every offering of all the holy things of the children of Israel, which they bring unto the priest, shall be his.  And every man's hallowed things shall be his: whatsoever any man giveth the priest, it shall be his.” (Numbers 5:9-10) 

Things given to the priest were to be considered the priest’s even though the donation was to God.  As we learn from Leviticus, the priest was to offer certain parts of every offering as a burnt sacrifice, depending on what type offering it was.  It wasn’t all his to use as he pleased.

Suspicion Of Adultery
Numbers 5:11-31

“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man's wife go aside, and commit a trespass against him, And a man lie with her carnally, and it be hid from the eyes of her husband, and be kept close, and she be defiled, and there be no witness against her, neither she be taken with the manner; And the spirit of jealousy come upon him, and he be jealous of his wife, and she be defiled: or if the spirit of jealousy come upon him, and he be jealous of his wife, and she be not defiled: Then shall the man bring his wife unto the priest, and he shall bring her offering for her, the tenth part of an ephah of barley meal; he shall pour no oil upon it, nor put frankincense thereon; for it is an offering of jealousy, an offering of memorial, bringing iniquity to remembrance.” (Numbers 5:11-15)

Suspicions of infidelity create distrust and conflict whether true or not.  Once they develop protestations of innocence are unlikely to be believed.  It is very hard to rebuild that trust.  God gave Israel specific instructions for dealing with such jealousy.  The jealous partner was to bring his wife and an offering of pure barley meal to the priest.  It was an offering of reminder of sin and was not to be influenced by pleasant smells or added oil.

“And the priest shall bring her near, and set her before the LORD: And the priest shall take holy water in an earthen vessel; and of the dust that is in the floor of the tabernacle the priest shall take, and put it into the water: And the priest shall set the woman before the LORD, and uncover the woman's head, and put the offering of memorial in her hands, which is the jealousy offering: and the priest shall have in his hand the bitter water that causeth the curse: And the priest shall charge her by an oath, and say unto the woman, If no man have lain with thee, and if thou hast not gone aside to uncleanness with another instead of thy husband, be thou free from this bitter water that causeth the curse: But if thou hast gone aside to another instead of thy husband, and if thou be defiled, and some man have lain with thee beside thine husband: Then the priest shall charge the woman with an oath of cursing, and the priest shall say unto the woman, The LORD make thee a curse and an oath among thy people, when the LORD doth make thy thigh to rot, and thy belly to swell; And this water that causeth the curse shall go into thy bowels, to make thy belly to swell, and thy thigh to rot: And the woman shall say, Amen, amen.” (Numbers 5:16-22)

The priest was to set the woman before the Lord, ands mix some of the dust from the floor of the Tabernacle with water from the Laver in a clay pot.  She was to hold the offering in her hands and swear that she was not guilty.  Then the priest was to warn her of the consequences of taking the water if she was guilty, that the contaminated water would cause an infection in her belly and legs, making sure she understood.

“And the priest shall write these curses in a book, and he shall blot them out with the bitter water: And he shall cause the woman to drink the bitter water that causeth the curse: and the water that causeth the curse shall enter into her, and become bitter.  Then the priest shall take the jealousy offering out of the woman's hand, and shall wave the offering before the LORD, and offer it upon the altar: And the priest shall take an handful of the offering, even the memorial thereof, and burn it upon the altar, and afterward shall cause the woman to drink the water.” (Numbers 5:23-26)

If the woman maintained her innocence, the priest was to record the warnings, using the contaminated water to blot them out.  He then offered a portion of the barley meal in the fire on the altar and made the woman drink the water.

“And when he hath made her to drink the water, then it shall come to pass, that, if she be defiled, and have done trespass against her husband, that the water that causeth the curse shall enter into her, and become bitter, and her belly shall swell, and her thigh shall rot: and the woman shall be a curse among her people.  And if the woman be not defiled, but be clean; then she shall be free, and shall conceive seed.” (Numbers 5:27-28)

If the woman was guilty, God would make the water cause an infection, and the woman was to be a pariah among her own family.  If no infection developed, she was to be considered innocent and to be welcomed back.

Notice that this is considerably different than the witch trials in which a person was held under water or burned in fire, and convicted and executed if they survived the treatment.  The results would be entirely up to God, whereas the medieval system guaranteed death in either case.

“This is the law of jealousies, when a wife goeth aside to another instead of her husband, and is defiled; Or when the spirit of jealousy cometh upon him, and he be jealous over his wife, and shall set the woman before the LORD, and the priest shall execute upon her all this law.  Then shall the man be guiltless from iniquity, and this woman shall bear her iniquity.” (Numbers 5:29-31)

With a clear sign from God as to guilt or innocence, there was to be no further doubt by either.  The matter was settled.

The Gershonites’ Responsibilities.

Numbers 4:21-28

“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Take also the sum of the sons of Gershon, throughout the houses of their fathers, by their families; 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. 


This is the service of the families of the Gershonites, to serve, and for burdens: 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, 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.” (Numbers 4:21-26)

Like the Kohathites, only those between thirty and fifty years of age were to be assigned to care for and move the cloth parts of the tabernacle.  Because they specialized in caring for the fabric parts they would become very skilled in folding and packing these items in an efficient manner.

“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.  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.” (Numbers 4:27-28) 

While Eleazar was in charge of the overall Tabernacle, and especially the items of worship, Ithamar was to oversee the erection and maintenance of the tent and courtyard.  The priests were to assign each of the Gershonites their place and responsibilities as needed.

Duties Of The Sons Of Merari
Numbers 4:29-33

“As for the sons of Merari, thou shalt number them after their families, by the house of their fathers; 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.


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, 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.  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.” (Numbers 4:29-33)

At least two and perhaps four men would be required to handle each of the boards for the Tabernacle, with several to handle the bars that held them in place.  An individual would be unable to carry more than two of the support sockets securely and the brass tent pegs and ropes would need to be carefully packed but by careful organization would make loading and unloading fairly efficient.  Each man was assigned responsibility for certain parts by name.

“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, 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: And those that were numbered of them by their families were two thousand seven hundred and fifty.  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 4:34-37)

The Kohathites had only a few items to deal with, but they would have to carry them the entire time. As well as moving their own stuff.  Two thousand seven hundred and fifty of them could rotate their burdens and help carry each others stuff so it would not be and excessive burden on anyone.  Paul emphasized a similar concept in giving in II Corinthians 8:12-14.  “For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.  For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened: But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality:”

“And those that were numbered of the sons of Gershon, throughout their families, and by the house of their fathers, 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, Even those that were numbered of them, throughout their families, by the house of their fathers, were two thousand and six hundred and thirty.  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. 


And those that were numbered of the families of the sons of Merari, throughout their families, by the house of their fathers, 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, Even those that were numbered of them after their families, were three thousand and two hundred.  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.” (Numbers 4:38-45)

The coverings and curtains for the Tabernacle were huge pieces of cloth and would require many men to load them onto the wagons.  With two thousand six hundred thirty men, the Gershonites could easily hand all the weight of all the different coverings with no one required to handle more than one piece before returning to their own stuff.  Once loaded on the wagons only a few drivers were needed.  The sons of Merari could assign teams to move each individual board or pole to load them, and even though there was a large number of parts, no one would need to make repeated trips.  Those who were free when erecting the tabernacle could level the ground or drive stakes while others unloaded.

“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, From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every one that came to do the service of the ministry, and the service of the burden in the tabernacle of the congregation, Even those that were numbered of them, were eight thousand and five hundred and fourscore.  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.” (Numbers 4:46-49)

With such a large and carefully organized work force, even a complex structure such as the Tabernacle could be struck or erected in a half hour or so.  This was critical if they were to move and keep the daily sacrifices God had specified.

The Kohath Levite’s Duties

Numbers 4:1-20

“And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, Take the sum of the sons of Kohath from among the sons of Levi, after their families, by the house of their fathers, 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.” (Numbers 4:1-3) 

While all the Levite men were to be given to God, only those between thirty and fifty years old were to do the actual work in the Tabernacle.  The Kohath Levites in particular, had very specific responsibilities for transporting the implements and furniture.  However, it was the priest’s responsibility to prepare them for transport.

“This shall be the service of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation, about the most holy things: And when the camp setteth forward, Aaron shall come, and his sons, and they shall take down the covering veil, and cover the ark of testimony with it: 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.” (Numbers 4:4-6)

Aaron and the priests were to take the veil down and cover the Ark of the Covenant with it, then cover it in badger skin cover similar to what served as the outer covering of the Tabernacle.  Finally that was to be covered with a solid blue cloth, and make sure the carrying poles were in place for the Kohath Levites to carry it. The ark was thus protected from dust, rain, and prying eyes.

“And upon the table of showbread 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: And they shall spread upon them a cloth of scarlet, and cover the same with a covering of badgers' skins, and shall put in the staves thereof.” (Numbers 4:7-8)

The priests were to cover the table of Showbread with a blue cloth then place the dishes and utensils on the cloth with the showbread to prevent scratching.  Over that was placed a scarlet cloth and it was to be protected with a badger skin cover so as to prevent damage or contamination.  The carrying poles were also to be installed by the priests.

“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: And they shall put it and all the vessels thereof within a covering of badgers' skins, and shall put it upon a bar.” (Numbers 4:9-10)

The golden Candlestick and all the accessories for it were to be wrapped in a blue cloth and covered with a badger skin outer covering.  The entire package was then to be attached to a pole for carrying.

“And upon the golden altar they shall spread a cloth of blue, and cover it with a covering of badgers' skins, and shall put to the staves thereof: 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 a bar: And they shall take away the ashes from the altar, and spread a purple cloth thereon: And they shall put upon it all the vessels thereof, wherewith they minister about it, even the censers, the fleshhooks, and the shovels, and the basins, all the vessels of the altar; and they shall spread upon it a covering of badgers' skins, and put to the staves of it.” (Numbers 4:11-14)

The Altar of Incense was to be covered with a blue cloth and covered with badger skins with the poles installed.  The other implements for use inside the tabernacle were to be wrapped in a blue cloth and covered with a badger skin covering before being attached to a pole for carrying.  These would include basins for carrying the blood into the Holy of Holies and various other containers.

The ashes were to be emptied out of the brazen altar, and it was to be covered with a purple cloth.  The brass implements for use with the brazen altar were then place on the cloth and it was all covered with a badger skin covering.  And the poles were installed.

“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.” (Numbers 4:15) 

The Kohath Levites were not allowed to even come into the tabernacle to carry the various items of worship until they were completely wrapped up, and they were nto to touch anything but the carrying staves or they would die.  The first record of breaking that command occurred in I Samuel 5-6 when the Philistines captured the Ark and returned it to Israel.  Many Philistines died, and the people of Bethshemish were worried the Philistines might have removed something, and opened it to look, resulting in more than fifty thousand deaths.  Uzzah was killed in II Samuel 6 for touching the Ark in an effort to prevent it from falling.

The Kohath Levites illustrate the relationship of the Jewish religion to the Gospel, that they were to carry it throughout the world, but never able to see or touch it.  I Peter 1;10-12 describes their situation.  “Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.  Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.”

“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.” (Numbers 4:16)

Aaron was the High Priest, but Eleazar was the one responsible for overseeing the day to day worship and care of the tabernacle.  He was essentially the pastor or chief priest, answerable to the High Priest.  Again we see the illustration of the modern church.

“And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, Cut ye not off the tribe of the families of the Kohathites from among the Levites: 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: But they shall not go in to see when the holy things are covered, lest they die.” (Numbers 4:17-20)

The Kohath Levites were not to be isolated from the other Levites despite their special duties, reminding us again that those with a special ministry are not to segregate themselves from the other people.  God reiterated the warning that the Kohath Levites were not to touch or even see the holy things they were to carry, but to allow the priests to designate each one’s burden.

It is important to note that God’s commands are always restated to ensure that there is no question as to what he said.  Any interpretation of scripture that contradicts other scripture or is not found repeatedly can safely be assumed to be incorrect. It can only be interpreted in light of other scripture, as II Peter 1:20-21 states.  “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.  For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”