Chapter 4:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 Leviticus Deuteronomy
Numbers 4
A command to number the Levites from thirty to fifty years
old, ver. 1-3. The charge of the Kohathites, ver. 4-20. Of the
Gershonites, ver. 21-28. Of the Merarites, ver. 29-33. The number
of each, ver. 34-45. Of all in general, ver. 46-49.
Verse 3. From thirty - This age was prescribed, as the age of full
strength of body, and therefore most proper for their labourious
work of carrying the parts and vessels of the tabernacle, and of
maturity of judgment, which is necessary for the right
management of holy services. Whence even John and Christ
entered not upon their ministry till that age. Indeed their first
entrance upon their work was at their 25th year, when they began
as learners, and acted under the inspection and direction of their
brethren; but in their 30th year they were compleatly admitted to a
full discharge of their whole office. But David, being a prophet,
and particularly directed by God in the affairs of the temple, made
a change in this matter, because the magnificence of the temple,
and the great multitude of sacred utensils and sacrifices, required
a greater number of attendants than formerly was necessary. Until
fifty - When they were exempted from the toilsome work of
carrying burdens, but not discharged from the honourable and
easy work done within the tabernacle, chap. viii, 26. All that enter
- That is, that do and may enter, having no defect, nor other
impediment.
Verse 5. They shall take down - For upon this necessary occasion the
inferior priests are allowed to come into the holy of holies, which
otherwise was peculiar to the high-priest. The covering veil - The
second veil, wherewith the ark was covered while the tabernacle
stood, Exod. xl, 3. Cover the ark - Because the Levites, who were
to carry the ark, might neither see, nor immediately touch it.
Verse 6. Badgers-skins - Whereby the ark was secured from the injuries
of the weather.
Verse 7. The dishes - Upon which the shew-bread was put. Continual
bread - So called because it was continually to be there, even in
the wilderness; where though they had only manna for
themselves, yet they reserved corn for the weekly making of these
loaves, which they might with no great difficulty procure from
some of the people bordering upon the wilderness.
Verse 11. The golden altar - All covered with plates of gold.
Verse 12. The instruments of ministry - The sacred garments used by the
priests in their holy ministrations. Cover them - All these
coverings were designed,
1. For safety, that these holy things might not be filled by rain, or
tarnished by the sun.
2. For decency, most of them had a cloth of blue, or purple, or
scarlet over them; the ark, a cloth wholly of blue, perhaps an
emblem of the azure skies, which are spread between us and the
Majesty on high;
3. For concealment. It was a fit sign of the darkness of that
dispensation. The holy things were then covered. But Christ hath
now destroyed the face of the covering.
Verse 13. The altar - Hence we may conclude, that they did offer
sacrifices at other times, though not so constantly and diligently,
as they did in Canaan. Moreover the taking away of the ashes only
doth sufficiently imply that the fire was preserved, which as it
came down from heaven, Lev. ix, 24. So it was by God's
command to be continually fed, and kept burning, and therefore
doubtless was put into some vessel, which might be either
fastened to the altar and put within this covering, or carried by
some person appointed thereunto.
Verse 15. Bear it - Upon their shoulders. Afterward the priests
themselves, being multiplied, carried these things, though the
Levites also were not excluded. They shall not touch - Before they
are covered.
Verse 16. Eleazar - He himself is to carry these things, and not to
commit them to the sons of Kohath. The oversight - The care that
all the things above mentioned be carried by the persons and in
the manner expressed.
Verse 18. Cut not off - Do not by your neglect provoke God to cut them
off for touching the holy things.
Verse 19. To his service - To that which is peculiarly allotted to him, the
services, and burdens being equally distributed among them.
Verse 25. The curtains - The curtains or covering of goats-hair. The
tabernacle - The ten curtains which covered the boards of the
tabernacle; for the boards themselves were carried by the
Merarites. His covering - The covering of rams-skins which was
put next over those ten curtains.
Verse 26. Which is round about - Which court compassed both the
tabernacle and the altar.
Verse 28. Under the hand - Under his conduct and direction.
Verse 31. The sockets - Which were as the feet upon which the pillars
stood.
Verse 32. Ye shall reckon - Every part and parcel shall be put in an
inventory; which is required here rather than in the fore-going
particulars; because these were much more numerous than the
former; because being meaner things, they might otherwise have
been neglected; and also to teach us, that God esteems nothing
small in his service, and that he expects his will should be
observed in the minutest circumstances. The death of the saints is
represented us the taking down of the tabernacle. The immortal
soul, like the most holy things, is first covered and taken away,
carried by angels unseen, and care is taken also of the body, the
skin and flesh, which are as the curtains, the bones and sinews,
which are as the bars and pillars. None of these shall be lost.
Commandment is given concerning the bones, a covenant made
with the dust. They are in safe custody, and shall be produced in
the great day, when this tabernacle shall be set up again, and these
vile bodies made like the glorious body of Jesus Christ.
Verse 44. Three thousand - Here appears the wisdom of Divine
Providence, that whereas in the Kohathites and Gershonites,
whose burdens were fewer and easier, there were but about a third
part of them fit for service; the Merarites, whose burdens were
more and heavier, had above half of them fit for this work.
Chapter 4:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 Leviticus Deuteronomy
This version of Wesley's Notes on the Bible is a derivative of an electronic version, Copyright 1997, by Sulu D. Kelley. All rights reserved. Used by permission. It may not be modified or used commercially without permission of Wesleyan Heritage Publishing and Sulu Kelley. A special thanks to Mr. Kelley and Wesleyan Heritage Publishing for permission to create and post this version of Wesley's Notes on the Bible.
Genesis
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