The Duties of the Kohathites (Numbers 3:27-32; Numbers 4:34-37; 1 Chronicles 23:12-20)
“Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Take a census of the Kohathites among the Levites by their clans and families, men from thirty to fifty years old—everyone who is qualified to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting.
This service of the Kohathites at the Tent of Meeting regards the most holy things. Whenever the camp sets out, Aaron and his sons are to go in, take down the veil of the curtain, and cover the ark of the Testimony with it. They are to place over this a covering of fine leather, spread a solid blue cloth over it, and insert its poles.
Over the table of the Presence they are to spread a blue cloth and place the plates and cups on it, along with the bowls and pitchers for the drink offering. The regular bread offering is to remain on it. And they shall spread a scarlet cloth over them, cover them with fine leather, and insert the poles.
They are to take a blue cloth and cover the lampstand used for light, together with its lamps, wick trimmers, and trays, as well as the jars of oil with which to supply it. Then they shall wrap it and all its utensils inside a covering of fine leather and put it on the carrying frame. Over the gold altar they are to spread a blue cloth, cover it with fine leather, and insert the poles. They are to take all the utensils for serving in the sanctuary, place them in a blue cloth, cover them with fine leather, and put them on the carrying frame.
Then they shall remove the ashes from the bronze altar, spread a purple cloth over it, and place on it all the vessels used to serve there: the firepans, meat forks, shovels, and sprinkling bowls—all the equipment of the altar. They are to spread over it a covering of fine leather and insert the poles.
When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy objects and all their equipment, as soon as the camp is ready to move, the Kohathites shall come and do the carrying. But they must not touch the holy objects, or they will die. These are the transportation duties of the Kohathites regarding the Tent of Meeting.
Eleazar son of Aaron the priest shall oversee the oil for the light, the fragrant incense, the daily grain offering, and the anointing oil. He has oversight of the entire tabernacle and everything in it, including the holy objects and their utensils.”
Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Do not allow the Kohathite tribal clans to be cut off from among the Levites. In order that they may live and not die when they come near the most holy things, do this for them: Aaron and his sons are to go in and assign each man his task and what he is to carry. But the Kohathites are not to go in and look at the holy objects, even for a moment, or they will die.”
The Duties of the Gershonites (Numbers 3:21-26; Numbers 4:38-41; 1 Chronicles 23:7-11)
And the LORD said to Moses, “Take a census of the Gershonites as well, by their families and their clans, from thirty to fifty years old, counting everyone who comes to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting.
This is the service of the Gershonite clans regarding work and transport: They are to carry the curtains of the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting with the covering of fine leather over it, the curtains for the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, the curtains of the courtyard, and the curtains for the entrance at the gate of the courtyard that surrounds the tabernacle and altar, along with their ropes and all the equipment for their service. The Gershonites will do all that needs to be done with these items.
All the service of the Gershonites—all their transport duties and other work—is to be done at the direction of Aaron and his sons; you are to assign to them all that they are responsible to carry. This is the service of the Gershonite clans at the Tent of Meeting, and their duties shall be under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.
The Duties of the Merarites (Numbers 3:33-37; Numbers 4:42-49; 1 Chronicles 23:21-23)
As for the sons of Merari, you are to register them by their clans and families, from thirty to fifty years old, counting everyone who comes to serve in the work of the Tent of Meeting.
This is the duty for all their service at the Tent of Meeting: to carry the frames of the tabernacle with its crossbars, posts, and bases, the posts of the surrounding courtyard with their bases, tent pegs, and ropes, including all their equipment and everything related to their use. You shall assign by name the items that they are responsible to carry. This is the service of the Merarite clans according to all their work at the Tent of Meeting, under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.”
The Numbering of the Levite Clans (Numbers 3:27-32; Numbers 4:1-20; 1 Chronicles 23:12-20)
So Moses, Aaron, and the leaders of the congregation numbered the Kohathites by their clans and families, everyone from thirty to fifty years old who came to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting. And those numbered by their clans totaled 2,750. These were counted from the Kohathite clans, everyone who could serve at the Tent of Meeting. Moses and Aaron numbered them according to the command of the LORD through Moses.
Then the Gershonites were numbered by their clans and families, everyone from thirty to fifty years old who came to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting. And those numbered by their clans and families totaled 2,630. These were counted from the Gershonite clans who served at the Tent of Meeting, whom Moses and Aaron counted at the LORD’s command.
And the Merarites were counted by their clans and their families, everyone from thirty to fifty years old who came to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting. The men registered by their clans numbered 3,200. These were counted from the Merarite clans, whom Moses and Aaron numbered at the LORD’s command through Moses.
So Moses, Aaron, and the leaders of Israel counted by their clans and families all the Levites from thirty to fifty years old who came to do the work of serving and carrying the Tent of Meeting. And the number of men was 8,580. At the LORD’s command they were registered through Moses and each one was assigned his work and burden, as the LORD had commanded Moses.”
Moving the Tabernacle through the wilderness is a very complicated job and not one to be left to chance. The Kohathites are to transport the most holy things; however, the priests must take stringent measures to ensure that no curious Kohathite decides to sneak a peep at these precious items. God warns Moses, “But the Kohathites are not to go in and look at the holy objects, even for a moment, or they will die.”
The Gershonites are to handle all the curtains and ropes for the Tent of Meeting under the supervision of the priests. The Merarites are to carry the frames of the tabernacle with its crossbars, posts, and bases, the posts of the surrounding courtyard with their bases, tent pegs, and ropes, including all their equipment and everything related to their use. Again, the priests are to supervise these activities. “At the LORD’s command they were registered through Moses and each one was assigned his work and burden, as the LORD had commanded Moses.”
APPLICATION: Sometimes we might think that the practice of administration is a relatively new profession; however, that is far from the truth. When Joseph became the number 2 man in Egypt, he was an administrator with others working below him. Now God is giving Moses specific instructions regarding the duties of the various families of the Levites and also emphasizing that these men must take all their orders from the priests. God wants to ensure that there will be no arguments and that work will go on smoothly.
God is not a God of confusion but a God of peace and order. God is giving Moses specific orders so that Moses won’t face endless argument and friction over the duties of the Levites. This same principle applies when you are facing difficult decisions. When my husband and I are facing dilemmas, we pray together until we receive the same answer. If we don’t receive a clear answer, we assume that we are rushing things and that we need to give God more time to reveal things. Psalm 32:8 promises “I will teach you and instruct you the way you should go. I will guide you with My eye upon you.” God will never leave us without instruction; however, sometimes we must give God time.
PRAYER: Psalm 29:11 tells us, “The Lord will give strength to His people. The Lord will bless His people with peace.” Bible verses are not merely to be read; they are also promises that may be claimed in prayer. For example, using this verse, you might pray like this: “Lord, I thank You that You have promised to give me strength and to bless me with Your peace. You know my trials and my struggles. You know what I am facing today. I thank You that when I need Your strength, You will give it to me. I thank You for Your peace that is beyond understanding. I pray in the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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