And to the office of Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest [pertaineth] the oil for the light, and the sweet incense, and the daily meat offering, and the anointing oil, [and] the oversight of all the tabernacle, and of all that therein [is], in the sanctuary, and in the vessels thereof.
And their charge [shall be] the ark, and the table, and the candlestick, and the altars, and the vessels of the sanctuary wherewith they minister, and the hanging, and all the service thereof.
And also unto the Levites; they shall no [more] carry the tabernacle, nor any vessels of it for the service thereof.
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Commentary for Numbers 7:9
1. **Themes:**
- **Divine Allocation of Responsibilities:** The verse reflects the theme of God assigning specific duties to different groups within the Israelite community. The Kohathites, a clan of the Levite tribe, were given the sacred task of carrying the sanctuary's holy objects.
- **Holiness and Service:** There is an emphasis on the sanctity of the sanctuary and the importance of the service performed by the Kohathites. Their role was crucial in transporting the tabernacle during the Israelites' journey in the wilderness.
- **Hierarchy and Order:** The verse also highlights the structured hierarchy within the Levitical priesthood, with different clans having distinct responsibilities, indicating an organized religious system.
2. **Historical Context:**
- **Time of Giving:** Numbers 7 describes the offerings brought by the leaders of Israel at the dedication of the altar in the Tabernacle. This occurred shortly after the completion of the Tabernacle, which was constructed according to God's instructions to Moses.
- **Wilderness Journey:** At this point, the Israelites were in the wilderness of Sinai, having fled Egypt and received the Law, including the instructions for the Tabernacle and its services.
- **Levitical Responsibilities:** The Levites, and specifically the Kohathites, were charged with the care and transport of the Tabernacle and its sacred items. Unlike other Levite clans who were given carts and oxen for their tasks (Numbers 7:1-8), the Kohathites were to carry the sanctuary's items on their shoulders, signifying the holiness of their burden and the care required in their service.
In summary, Numbers 7:9 underscores the unique role of the Kohathites in the religious life of the Israelites during their wilderness journey, emphasizing the divine organization of worship and the special sanctity of their priestly duties.
*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: 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: H6955 There are 29 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: קְהָת Transliteration: Qᵉhâth Pronunciation: keh-hawth' Description: from an unused root meaning to ally oneself; allied; Kehath, an Israelite; Kohath.
Strong's Number: H5414 There are 1816 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: נָתַן Transliteration: nâthan Pronunciation: naw-than' Description: a primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.); add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, [idiom] avenge, [idiom] be (healed), bestow, bring (forth, hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, [phrase] cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, [idiom] doubtless, [idiom] without fail, fasten, frame, [idiom] get, give (forth, over, up), grant, hang (up), [idiom] have, [idiom] indeed, lay (unto charge, up), (give) leave, lend, let (out), [phrase] lie, lift up, make, [phrase] O that, occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, [idiom] pull, put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send (out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), [phrase] sing, [phrase] slander, strike, (sub-) mit, suffer, [idiom] surely, [idiom] take, thrust, trade, turn, utter, [phrase] weep, [phrase] willingly, [phrase] withdraw, [phrase] would (to) God, yield.
Strong's Number: H3808 There are 73 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: לֹא Transliteration: lôʼ Pronunciation: lo Description: or לוֹא; or לֹה; (Deuteronomy 3:11), a primitive particle; not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles; [idiom] before, [phrase] or else, ere, [phrase] except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never, no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), ([idiom] as though...,(can-), for) not (out of), of nought, otherwise, out of, [phrase] surely, [phrase] as truly as, [phrase] of a truth, [phrase] verily, for want, [phrase] whether, without.
Strong's Number: H5656 There are 125 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: עֲבֹדָה Transliteration: ʻăbôdâh Pronunciation: ab-o-daw' Description: or עֲבוֹדָה; from עָבַד; work of any kind; act, bondage, [phrase] bondservant, effect, labour, ministering(-try), office, service(-ile, -itude), tillage, use, work, [idiom] wrought.
Strong's Number: H6944 There are 382 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: קֹדֶשׁ Transliteration: qôdesh Pronunciation: ko'-desh Description: from קָדַשׁ; a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity; consecrated (thing), dedicated (thing), hallowed (thing), holiness, ([idiom] most) holy ([idiom] day, portion, thing), saint, sanctuary.
Strong's Number: H5375 There are 611 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: נָשָׂא Transliteration: nâsâʼ Pronunciation: naw-saw' Description: or נָסָה; (Psalm 4:6 (אֲבַד)), a primitive root; to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative; accept, advance, arise, (able to, (armor), suffer to) bear(-er, up), bring (forth), burn, carry (away), cast, contain, desire, ease, exact, exalt (self), extol, fetch, forgive, furnish, further, give, go on, help, high, hold up, honorable ([phrase] man), lade, lay, lift (self) up, lofty, marry, magnify, [idiom] needs, obtain, pardon, raise (up), receive, regard, respect, set (up), spare, stir up, [phrase] swear, take (away, up), [idiom] utterly, wear, yield.
Strong's Number: H3802 There are 58 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: כָּתֵף Transliteration: kâthêph Pronunciation: kaw-thafe' Description: from an unused root meaning to clothe; the shoulder (proper, i.e. upper end of the arm; as being the spot where the garments hang); figuratively, side-piece or lateral projection of anything; arm, corner, shoulder(-piece), side, undersetter.