A Help for the Understanding of the Holy Scriptures, Numbers · Chapter 4
CHAP. IV.
Verſ. 3. FRom thirty years old and upwards, even untill fifty years old, all that enter into the host, &c.]
In the former chapter all the Levites of a monethmonth old and upward were numbred, becauſe all were numbred that were to be taken in ſtead of the firſt-born, and ſo to be accounted as thoſe that were ſet apart as holy to the Lord; but here onelyonly thoſe that were thirty years old and upward are numbred, to wit, thoſe that were to be imployed in carrying the tabernacle and the holy things thereof. Indeed in the eighth chapter of this book, verſ. 24. it is ſaid that the Levites ſhould enter upon their ſervice at five and twenty years old: to which ſome anſwer out of the Hebrew traditions, that at five and twenty years they were admitted to be inſtructed and trained up to the ſervice of the tabernacle, but did not actually enter upon the ſervice till they were thirty years old. But I conceive the truer anſwer is, either that they entred upon the ſervice of the tabernacle at five and twenty years, but not upon this of removing and carrying the tabernacle and the holy things therein (of which at preſent Moſes onelyonly ſpeaks) untill they were thirty years old, becauſe a good ſettled ſtrength of body was required to that ſervice; or elſe that the chief charge and care of the ſervice of the tabernacle l…y upon thoſe onelyonly that were thirty years old, onelyonly when they were but five and twenty years they were admitted to aſſiſt and help their brethren upon whom the ch…rg… lay, in thoſe things that they ſhould ſet them to do. And therefore we find that this numbring of the Levites for the ſervice of the tabernacle from thirty years old continued even in Davids time, 1. Chron. 23. 3. Now the Levites wer… numbred from the age of thirty years end upward; the Lord teaching us by this maturity of years at firſt required in the Levites, that the miniſters of God, attending upon holy things, the chari…t of Iſrael and the horſemen thereof, 2. Kings 2. 12. ſhould be no novices or young ſcholars, but ripe in knowledge and of ſolid jugement; and therefore we ſee that both the Baptiſt and Chriſt were full thirty years old ere they entred upon their office and miniſtry, Luke …. …2, 23. And for the ſame cauſe it was that none were now numbred that were above fifty years: for becauſe at that age ſtrength uſeth to decay, and naturall infirmities to grow upon men, therefore they were then exempted from the harder ſervice of the tabernacle (and ſo were not now numbred amongſt thoſe that were to carry the tabernacle) yet ſtill they were to miniſter with their brethren in the tabernacle of the congregation, to keep the charge, chap. 8. 26. that is, they were ſtill to be aſſiſtant as overſeers, to ſee that the work was done: that charge lay upon them ſtill though they were exempted from all laborious ſervice in their own perſons; and beſides they were ſtill to be imployed in teaching and inſtructing the people. As for the deſcription which we have here of thoſe that were to be numbred, all that enter into the host to do the work in the tabernacle of the congregation, we muſt know firſt, that the meaning is not, that thoſe that were now numbred from thirty years old and upward▪ &c. were all that were at any time imployed in the ſervice of the tabernacle (for I ſay it is evident chap. 8. 24. that from twenty and five years old and upward they went in to wai… upon the ſervice of the tabernacle, though happely as ſubſervient onelyonly to thoſe of thirty years old and upward, upon whom the charge of the work chiefly lay) but the meaning is, that thoſe that were now numbred were all ſuch as did enter into the hoſt to do the work of the tab…rnacle of the congregation; and ſ…condly, that the company of the Levites that did the ſervice of the tabernacle are here called an hoſt, becauſe they had their ſeverall orders, and offices, and places under the command of their heads and governours, and were not admitted into the ſervice if th…y were craſie or lame, or any way unfit for theſe holy imploym…nts.
Verſ. 4. This ſhall be the ſervice of the ſonnes of Kobath, &c.]
To preven… confuſion and ambition …very family hath their ſervice ſeve…ally appointed.
Verſ. 5. And they ſhall take down the covering-vail, &c.]
That is, the v…il which hung between the holy and the moſt holy place, called by the Apoſtle th… ſecond vail, Heb. 9. 3. Herewith the ark was covered whilſt the tabernacle ſtood, Exod. 40. 3. Thou ſhalt put therein the ark of the teſtimony, and cover the ark with the vail; and herein it was wrapped up and covered now when the tabernacle was to be taken down and removed, and that by t… prieſts, the …un…s of A…ron: ſo that hereby it is alſo evident, that tho…gh the high priests alone w…nt into th… moſt holy place where the ark was, and that too but once … year, Heb. 9. 7. to wit whileſt the tabernacle was ſtanding to do ſervice there; yet when the tabernacle was to be taken down▪ the in…eriour prieſts might freely go in thither, to wit, having firſt taken away the vail, becauſe then there was no difference betwixt the holy and the moſt holy place; and the Lord, no doubt, at thoſe times withdrew the cloud upon the mercy-…eat, Levit. 16. 2. which was the ſigne of Gods preſence there; yea and the Levites too afterwards, when the holy things were covered, to remove the ark from thence, as ſeems to be implyed verſ. 16.
Verſ. 6. And ſhall put thereon the covering of badgers skins, and ſhall ſpread over it a cloth wholly of blue.]
This covering of badger skinnes was not that where-with the tabernacle was on the outſide cove…d (for that was amongſt the carriage of the Gerſhonites, verſ. 25.) but it was a ſmaller caſe or covering of theſe skinnes laid over the ark to keep it dry when the Levites carried it: and therefore we ſee there was ſuch a covering fitted for the table, verſ. 8. and ſo alſo for the reſt of the holy things, verſ. 10, 11, &c. and theſe with the clothes of blue and ſcarlet, uſed in the covering of theſe things, were thoſe …lothes of ſervice mentioned Exod. 31. 10.
And ſhall put in the ſtaves thereof.]
It is ſaid of the ſtaves belonging to the ark, Exod. 25. 15. The ſtaves ſhall be in the rings of the ark, they ſhall not be taken from it; and hereupon it becomes queſtionable how it can be ſaid here, that the prieſts ſhould put in the ſtaves thereof, if the ſtaves were to remain alwayes in the rings, and were upon no occaſion to be taken out. Some Expoſitours to remove this ſeeming contradiction hold that the ſtaves here ſpoken of were not the ſtaves of the ark, mentioned Exod. 25. but certain other ſtaves that were put through the covering of the ark▪ and wherewith they carryed the ark being thus covered. But becauſe they are called here …he ſtaves thereof, and where afterwards Moſes ſpeaks of the candleſtick which had no ſtaves belonging to it, there another expr…ſſion is uſed for the carrying of it, verſ. 10. And ſhall put it upon a barre; therefore I conceive this place is meant of the very ſtaves that were made together with the ark▪ and covered over with gold as the ark was; and that two other wayes this doubt may be more probably reſolved: to wit firſt, that though the ſtaves of the ark were never to be taken out of the rings while…t the tabernacle was ſtanding▪ of which that law is meant. Exod. 25. 15. yet when the tabernacle was taken down, and the holy things to be removed, then they might and muſt neceſſarily take o…t the ſtaves till the coverings were put upon it, and then were to put them in again, as here is enjoyned, for the carrying of it; or ſecondly, that this which is here ſaid of putting in the ſtaves thereof, is meant of putting in the end of the ſtaves under the covering, to wit, that becauſe the ſtaves were a part of the ark▪ and covered over with gold as the ark was, therefore not ſo much as the ends of the ſtaves that ſtuck out were to be le…t bare to the injury of the weather, nor might be ſeen or touched by the Levites when they came to carry it, but were therefore to be carefully put in under the covering; and to that end happely the caſes or covering of the ark were ſo made that there were places to put in the ends of the ſlaves, and ſo the Levites did not touch ſo much as the ſtaves uncovered.
Verſ. 7. And the continuall bread ſhall be thereon.]
That is, the ſhewbread▪ here called the continuall bread, becauſe it was to be continually upon the table before the Lord, Exod. 25. …0.) ſhall not be taken off from the table▪ when it is thus covered and wrapped up▪ but ſhall be left ſtill upon the table, even when the Levites remove it from one place to another. And hereby it is evident that they had loaves of ſhewbread ſtanding upon the table all the time of their travelling through the wilderneſſe: for though they were chi…fly fed with manna all the time▪ Exod. 16. 35. The chil…ren of Iſrael did eat manna fourty years, till they came to a land inhabited; yet it may be probably enough conceived that they had too ſome ſmall ſupply of corn to make bread from the neighbouring countries, whereof however they would be ſure to provide every week the loaves of ſhewbread that were to ſtand upon the holy table.
Verſ. 13. And they ſhall take away the aſhes from the altar.]
In giving direction how the altar of burnt-offerings was to be wrapped up and covered every time they took down the tabernacle, and were to go forward to ſome other place, here is order taken that firſt they ſhould take away the aſhes, whereby to me it ſeems not ſo probable, which moſt Expoſitours hold, that the Iſraelites never offered any ſacrifices in the time of their travelling through the wilderneſſe after they were once gone from mount Sinai: for why then ſhould they be here enjoyned to take the aſhes from off the altar when ever they removed the tabernacle? happely they did not indeed for want of ſtore of cattel ſo conſtantly obſerve all the ſacrifices enjoyned as they did afterwards when they came into the land of Canaan: But that God ſhould c…uſe them at mount Sinai to build ſuch a goodly tabernacle, and then ſet apart a whole tribe to the ſervice of the tabernacle, and deſtroy Nadab and Abihu for not being exact in that ſervice, to render the prieſts thereby more carefull and wary, a…d yet that after this for above eight and thirty years together they ſhould never offer any ſacrifices, ſ…ems to me ve…y improbable. And as for that place. Amos 5. 25. Hav… ye offered unto me ſacrifices and offerings in the wilderneſſe fourty years, O houſe of Iſrael? the meaning is not that all thoſe fourty years they never offered ſacrifices nor offerings (for at Sinai it is evident they did) but that they did even in thoſe times adulterate the worſhip that he had enjoyned them: ſo that it cannot be concluded, I conceive, that they did never ſacrifice in their paſſing through the wilderneſſe. But what became of the fire when they cleared the altar of the aſhes, and put the coverings upon it? I anſwer▪ tho…gh it be not expreſſed how it was done, yet that it was put into ſome pot or other v…ſſel▪ and …o preſerved ſtill with ſupply of wood, cannot well be queſtioned; becauſe they were not to uſe any ſtrange fire in their ſacrifices, but onelyonly that which was kindled f…om heaven, Levit. 9. 24. which therefore they were appointed continually to keep burning, Levit. 6. 12. The fire in the altar ſhall be burning in it, it ſhall not be put out.
Verſ. 15. And when Aaron and his ſonnes have made an end of covering the Sanctuary, &c.]
Here direction is given for the carriage of all the holy things of the Sanctuary before mentioned, to wit, that being ſo covered, ſo ſoon as the camp b…gan to remove, the Levites that were the poſterity of Kohath ſhould come and take them up, and carry them in their place, onelyonly with this caution added▪ but they ſhall not touch any holy thing leſt they die. And thus the charge of the Kohathite…, a… it was more honourable then that of the other Levites, becauſe they had the cha…ge of the moſt holy things; ſo it was more burthenſome, becauſe they b…re it not in carts as the other Levites did theirs, but on their ſhoulders; and withall more perillou…, which muſt needs much take away the envy of this honour. The a…k ind…d was oft…n car…yed by the prieſts themſelves, as it is evident, Deut. …1. 9. Mo…s wro…e this Law, and delivered it to the prieſts the ſonnes of Lev▪ which bare the Ark of the covenant of the Lord; for though this ſervice was impoſed upon the Levites as ſubſervient to the prieſts, yet the prie…s were no… excluded, who did therefore upon ſpeciall occaſions carry it themſelves, as when they paſſed over Jordan, Joſh. 3. 6. & when they compaſſed the walls of Jericho, Joſh. 6. 6. But ordinarily this ſervice was performed by the Levites, eſpeci…lly till the number of the prieſts was increaſed, they carried it as they did all other the holy thing… of the Sanctuary. The bra…en laver, I know, is not here mentioned amongſt the holy things which they were to carry; but the reaſon of this may be, becauſe onelyonly thoſe things are named which were covered by the prieſts, but this laver could receive no hu…t by the wer, and therefore was not covered.
Verſ. 16. And to the office of Eleazar the ſonne of Aaron the priest pertain…th the oyl for the light.]
Two things are here affirmed concerning the charge or office of Eleazar, the eldeſt ſonne of Aaron, to wit, in this ſervice of removing the …abernacle: namely 1. that to him pertained the oyl for the light, and the ſw…et …n…nſe, and the daily meat-offering, and the anointing oyl, that is, that he himſelf was to carry theſe things; for if his charge had been onelyonly to overſee the carrying o… theſe things by the Kohathites, why ſhould theſe things be particularly mentioned, ſince the overſeeing of them in all their carriages belonged to him: and then 2. that to him appertained the overſight of all the tabernacle▪ &c, that is, he was to overſee the Kohathit…s concerning the carrying of theſe things, and to appoint every one to their ſeverall burthens. And thus as the Kohathites had the honour of carrying the moſt holy things, ſo Eleazar, the eldeſt ſonne of Aaron▪ was appointed to have the over…ght of them, as Ithamar his younger brother had the over…ight of the Gerſhonites, ver. 28. and the Merarites, ver. 33.
Verſ. 25. And they ſhall bear the curtains of the tabernacle, &c.]
To wit, the foure ſeverall coverings wherewith the tabernacle was covered, that is, 1. the ten curious curtains, mentioned here in the ſecond place, though they were the firſt coverings, and were called as here the tabernacle of the congregation, Exod. 26. 1▪ and 2. the eleven curt…ins of goats hair, which were laid over that, named here in the firſt place▪ and called the cur…ains of the tabernacle: 3. the covering which was of rammes skinn…s died red: and then 4. the covering of badgers skinnes, which lay uppermoſt of all.
Verſ. 32. And by name ye ſhall reckon the inſ…ruments of the charge of their burthen.]
Whereas the ſockets, pillars, pi…s▪ cords, and other inſtrument… co…itted to their charge were many, and …ight ſome of them at leaſt ſeem of le… importan…e, therefore the Lord …ppointed that of theſe there ſhould be a note kept, and ſo …ccordingly th…y ſhould be delivered by name▪ leſt any ſhould be to ſeek wh…n the tabernacle was to be …et up again. Her…by alſo was ſigni…ied how carefull God is of the leaſt member of his church, and ſo alſo of all his or…inance… ▪ John 10. 3.
Verſ. 44. Even thoſe that were numbred of them after th…ir …amili…s were three thouſand and two hundred.]
Uſually in all families the younger and aged …ort, if reckoned togeth…r, are more then the middle aged: and ſo it was in the other families of the Levites: of the G…r…honites there was little more then a third part fit to ſerve in the tabernacl…, …nd of the Kohathites there was not a third par… ▪ and yet the Merarites are more then half able men for Gods ſervice; a moſt remarkable proof of the wiſdome and providence of God. Becauſe the greateſt burthen was impoſ…d upon the Merarites, therefore God giveth them more able men then any of the other families, and yet the generall number of theſe were leſſe then any of the other two.
Verſ. 48. Even thoſe that were numbred of them …ere eight thouſand and five hundred and fourſcore.]
Note how few there were of the Levites in compariſon of the other tribes: O… Judah there were ſeventy and foure thouſand and …ix hundred able men for the outward wa…fare in the hoſt of Iſrael, Numb. 1. 27. but of the Levites there were but eight thouſand five hundred and fourſcore men fit for their ſervice.