Numbers 4:14-16
New English Translation
14 Then they must place on it all its implements with which they serve there—the trays, the meat forks, the shovels, the basins, and all the utensils of the altar—and they must spread on it a covering of fine leather, and then insert its poles.[a]
15 “When Aaron and his sons have finished[b] covering[c] the sanctuary and all the furnishings of the sanctuary, when the camp is ready to journey, then[d] the Kohathites will come to carry them;[e] but they must not touch[f] any[g] holy thing, or they will die.[h] These are the responsibilities[i] of the Kohathites with the tent of meeting.
16 “The appointed responsibility of Eleazar son of Aaron the priest is for the oil for the light, and the spiced incense, and the daily grain offering, and the anointing oil; he also has[j] the appointed responsibility over all the tabernacle with[k] all that is in it, over the sanctuary and over all its furnishings.”[l]
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Numbers 4:14 tc For this passage the Greek and Smr have a substantial addition concerning the purple cloth for the laver and its base, and a further covering of skin (see D. W. Gooding, “On the Use of the LXX for Dating Midrashic Elements in the Targums,” JTS 25 [1974]: 1-11).
- Numbers 4:15 tn The verb form is the Piel perfect with a vav (ו) consecutive; it continues the future sequence, but in this verse forms a subordinate clause to the parallel sequential verb to follow.
- Numbers 4:15 tn The Piel infinitive construct with the preposition serves as the direct object of the preceding verbal form, answering the question of what it was that they finished.
- Numbers 4:15 tn Heb “after this.”
- Numbers 4:15 tn The form is the Qal infinitive construct from נָשָׂא (nasaʾ, “to lift, carry”); here it indicates the purpose clause after the verb “come.”
- Numbers 4:15 tn The imperfect tense may be given the nuance of negated instruction (“they are not to”) or negated obligation (“they must not”).
- Numbers 4:15 tn Here the article expresses the generic idea of any holy thing (R. J. Williams, Hebrew Syntax, 19, §92).
- Numbers 4:15 tn The verb is the perfect tense with a vav (ו) consecutive, following the imperfect tense warning against touching the holy thing. The form shows the consequence of touching the holy thing, and so could be translated “or they will die” or “lest they die.” The first is stronger.
- Numbers 4:15 tn The word מַשָּׂא (massaʾ) is normally rendered “burden,” especially in prophetic literature. It indicates the load that one must carry, whether an oracle, or here the physical responsibility.
- Numbers 4:16 tn This is supplied to the line to clarify “appointed.”
- Numbers 4:16 tn Heb “and.”
- Numbers 4:16 sn One would assume that he would prepare and wrap these items, but that the Kohathites would carry them to the next place.
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