King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
¶ And Moses and Aaron and the chief of the congregation numbered the sons of the Kohathites after their families, and after the house of their fathers,
Complete Jewish Bible:
Moshe, Aharon and the community leaders took a census of the descendants of K'hat by their clans and families,
Berean Standard Bible:
So Moses, Aaron, and the leaders of the congregation numbered the Kohathites by their clans and families,
American Standard Version:
And Moses and Aaron and the princes of the congregation numbered the sons of the Kohathites by their families, and by their fathers’ houses,
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And Moses{H4872} and Aaron{H175} and the chief{H5387} of the congregation{H5712} numbered{H6485} the sons{H1121} of the Kohathites{H6956} after their families{H4940}, and after the house{H1004} of their fathers{H1},
Cross-References (KJV):
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Numbers 4:34
1. **Themes:**
- **Divine Order and Organization:** The verse reflects God's command for a systematic census of the Levite families, specifically the Kohathites, showing the importance of order in the religious life of the Israelites.
- **Priestly Duties and Responsibilities:** The Kohathites were one of the Levite clans entrusted with the care of the most sacred objects in the Tabernacle. This counting was likely related to assigning specific duties in the sanctuary.
- **Inclusivity of Community Leaders:** The involvement of Moses, Aaron, and the chiefs of the congregation indicates a communal effort in religious administration, emphasizing shared governance and accountability.
2. **Historical Context:**
- **Exodus and Wilderness Period:** Numbers 4:34 is set during the time when the Israelites were wandering in the wilderness after their exodus from Egypt, before they entered the Promised Land.
- **Preparation for Journey:** The book of Numbers gets its name from the census (in Greek, "arithmoi") taken of the Israelites as they prepared to journey to Canaan. This verse is part of the instructions given for organizing the tribes and assigning roles before setting out.
- **Levites' Role:** The Levites, including the Kohathites, were not counted in the general census of the tribes because they were set apart for religious service. Instead, they were numbered separately to determine their responsibilities in transporting the Tabernacle and its sacred contents.
- **Age Requirement:** Only able-bodied men between the ages of 30 and 50 from the Kohathite clan were to be counted for service, as later verses in the chapter specify.
In summary, Numbers 4:34 is part of the detailed instructions given by God to Moses and Aaron for organizing the Levites, particularly the Kohathites, for their sacred duties during the wilderness journey to the Promised Land. It underscores the importance of order, community involvement, and the special role of the Levites in ancient Israelite society.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H4872
There are 704 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מֹשֶׁה
Transliteration: Môsheh
Pronunciation: mo-sheh'
Description: from מָשָׁה; drawing out (of the water), i.e. rescued; Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver; Moses. - Strong's Number: H175
There are 480 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אַהֲרוֹן
Transliteration: ʼAhărôwn
Pronunciation: a-har-one'
Description: of uncertain derivation; Aharon, the brother of Moses; Aaron. - Strong's Number: H5387
There are 120 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָשִׂיא
Transliteration: nâsîyʼ
Pronunciation: naw-see'
Description: or נָשִׂא; from נָשָׂא; properly, an exalted one, i.e. a king or sheik; also a rising mist; captain, chief, cloud, governor, prince, ruler, vapour. - Strong's Number: H5712
There are 140 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עֵדָה
Transliteration: ʻêdâh
Pronunciation: ay-daw'
Description: feminine of עֵד in the original sense of fixture; a stated assemblage (specifically, a concourse, or generally, a family or crowd); assembly, company, congregation, multitude, people, swarm. Compare עֵדָה. - Strong's Number: H6485
There are 270 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: פָּקַד
Transliteration: pâqad
Pronunciation: paw-kad'
Description: a primitive root; to visit (with friendly or hostile intent); by analogy, to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss, deposit, etc.; appoint, [idiom] at all, avenge, bestow, (appoint to have the, give a) charge, commit, count, deliver to keep, be empty, enjoin, go see, hurt, do judgment, lack, lay up, look, make, [idiom] by any means, miss, number, officer, (make) overseer, have (the) oversight, punish, reckon, (call to) remember(-brance), set (over), sum, [idiom] surely, visit, want. - Strong's Number: H1121
There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בֵּן
Transliteration: bên
Pronunciation: bane
Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth. - Strong's Number: H6956
There are 15 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: קֳהָתִי
Transliteration: Qŏhâthîy
Pronunciation: ko-haw-thee'
Description: patronymically from קְהָת; a Kohathite (collectively) or descendants of Kehath; Kohathites. - Strong's Number: H4940
There are 224 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מִשְׁפָּחָה
Transliteration: mishpâchâh
Pronunciation: mish-paw-khaw'
Description: from שָׁפָה (compare שִׁפְחָה); a family, i.e. circle of relatives; figuratively, a class (of persons), a species (of animals) or sort (of things); by extension a tribe or people; family, kind(-red). - Strong's Number: H1004
There are 1718 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בַּיִת
Transliteration: bayith
Pronunciation: bah'-yith
Description: probably from בָּנָה abbreviated; a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.); court, daughter, door, [phrase] dungeon, family, [phrase] forth of, [idiom] great as would contain, hangings, home(born), (winter) house(-hold), inside(-ward), palace, place, [phrase] prison, [phrase] steward, [phrase] tablet, temple, web, [phrase] within(-out). - Strong's Number: H1
There are 15773 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָב
Transliteration: ʼâb
Pronunciation: awb
Description: a primitive word; father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application; chief, (fore-) father(-less), [idiom] patrimony, principal. Compare names in 'Abi-'.