SERIES E --- YHVH’S LAWS --- LESSON 04

MOVING THE TABERNACLE

THE MEN WHO MOVED THE TABERNACLE

From Numbers 4

One day Adonai instructed Moses and Aaron concerning the Levites and their responsibilities in moving the tabernacle. Count the descendants of Kohath between the ages of thirty and fifty, Adonai Commanded. This branch of the Levites will handle the most sacred parts of the tabernacle. When it is time to move, Aaron and his sons will begin the work of taking the tabernacle apart. Firstly they will take down the veil and cover the Ark with it. The veil will be covered with goatskin and that will be covered with a blue cloth. After that, they will place the carrying poles through the rings of the Ark. Aaron and his sons will place a blue cloth over the table where the Bread of the Presence is kept and then will place the dishes, spoons, bowls and cups, as well as the Bread itself upon the cloth. Over the entire table they will place a scarlet cloth and finally a covering of goatskin. When this is done, they will place the carrying poles through the rings of the table. Aaron and his sons will also spread a blue cloth over the lamp stand; the lamps, snuffers and trays; and the containers for the oil which is used in the lamps. A goatskin covering will be spread over the blue cloth and the entire collection will be placed on a carrying frame. After they cover the gold altar with a blue cloth and a goatskin covering, Aaron and his sons will put the carrying poles through the rings of the altar. Then they will wrap all of the other tabernacle utensils in a blue cloth, which in turn will be wrapped with goatskin and this will be placed on a carrying frame. When the ashes are cleaned from the altar, Aaron and his sons will cover it with a purple cloth. They will place all of the utensils used for the altar on this cloth, including the firepans, forks, shovels, basins and other utensils. When all of this is covered with a goatskin spread, Aaron and his sons will put the carrying poles in their places. When Aaron and his sons have finished packing the tabernacle and its utensils, the men of Kohath will carry these things to the next campsite. They must never touch these sacred objects themselves; if they do, they will die. All of this work is the responsibility of the descendants of Kohath. Aaron’s son Eleazar will be in charge of the entire tabernacle and its utensils. In addition, he will have direct charge over the oil for the lamps, the fragrant incense, the grain for the meal offering and the anointing oil. Adonai warned Moses and Aaron, you must not let the men of Kohath destroy themselves by doing anything wrong when they carry the sacred objects. They must never enter the tabernacle and look at the sacred objects themselves; if they do, they will die. And when they are carrying the objects, Aaron and his sons must go with them and show each man what he is to do. Adonai gave Moses and Aaron instructions concerning the Gershonites. Count the descendants of Gershon between the ages of thirty and fifty and assign the following duties to them. The Gershonites will carry the tabernacle curtains, including those which make up its ceiling and roof, the goatskin covering over the roof and the curtains for the tabernacle entrance and courtyard fence and entrance. They will carry also the ropes and other items related to the curtains. It will be the assigned work of the men of Gershon to move these items from one campsite to the next. Aaron and his sons will have general supervision over this work, but Aaron’s son Ithamar will be directly responsible for it. Now count the descendants of Merari between the ages of thirty and fifty and assign them to carry the following parts of the tabernacle: the frames, bars, pillars and bases, including the frames for the courtyard fence with its bases, pegs and cords. Each man will have certain parts to carry and will be identified by name. The descendants of Merari will also be responsible directly to Ithamar. When Moses and Aaron and the other leaders of Israel counted the descendants of Kohath, they found two thousand seven hundred and fifty who were between the ages of thirty and fifty, who could enter the service of the tabernacle. This was all done exactly as Adonai had Instructed Moses. They also counted twenty-six hundred and thirty descendants of Gershon and thirty-two hundred descendants of Merari, all between the ages of thirty and fifty, who could enter the service of the tabernacle. These Levites were also assigned by Moses and Aaron to work in the tabernacle, as Adonai had instructed. Altogether Moses and Aaron and the leaders of Israel counted eighty-five hundred and eighty Levites between the ages of thirty and fifty, who could serve Adonai in the tabernacle. Each of these men was assigned his responsibilities in the work of the tabernacle. The entire census was done in the way Adonai had Commanded Moses.

COMMENTARY

LIFE THEY LEFT BEHIND: THE FINE FURNITURE OF ANCIENT EGYPT

Wealthy Egyptians enjoyed many luxuries that the Israelites never knew. Among them was fine furniture. Rich people’s homes had beds, chairs and stools, as well as wickerwork stands and mats of woven rushes. Many of these pieces would not seem out of place in modern furniture stores, but they were made many thousands of years ago. Wood was scarce in Egypt, because the people had used up the forests around them. Wood such as fir and cedar had to be imported from neighbouring lands. The Egyptians had developed metal woodworking tools that look a little like modern ones. They also knew how to make veneers and plywood, though most people think they’re recent inventions.