Levitical Duties (Numbers 4)

How many sub-tribes were the Levites divided into? How were the duties of Kohath, Gershon and Merari organized? Did this foreshadow an eternal tabernacle? Let’s look at Numbers 4.

What were the responsibilities of the Levitical tribe of Kohath in the tent of meeting? What were their ages of service?

The Lord said to Moses and Aaron: “Take a census of the Kohathite branch of the Levites by their clans and families. Count all the men from thirty to fifty years of age who come to serve in the work at the tent of meeting. “This is the work of the Kohathites at the tent of meeting: the care of the most holy things. When the camp is to move, Aaron and his sons are to go in and take down the shielding curtain and put it over the ark of the covenant law. Then they are to cover the curtain with a durable leather, spread a cloth of solid blue over that and put the poles in place.” (Numbers 4:1-5 NIV)

What were the responsibilities of the Levitical tribe of Kohath on the table of showbread, etc?

On the table of showbread they shall spread a blue cloth, and put on it the dishes, the pans, the bowls, and the pitchers for pouring; and the showbread shall be on it. They shall spread over them a scarlet cloth, and cover the same with a covering of badger skins; and they shall insert its poles. And they shall take a blue cloth and cover the lampstand of the light, with its lamps, its wick-trimmers, its trays, and all its oil vessels, with which they service it. Then they shall put it with all its utensils in a covering of badger skins, and put it on a carrying beam. (Numbers 4:7-10 NKJV)

What were the responsibilities of the Levitical tribe of Kohath on the gold incense altar?

Next they must spread a blue cloth over the gold incense altar and cover this cloth with fine goatskin leather. Then they must attach the carrying poles to the altar. They must take all the remaining furnishings of the sanctuary and wrap them in a blue cloth, cover them with fine goatskin leather, and place them on the carrying frame. They must remove the ashes from the altar for sacrifices and cover the altar with a purple cloth. All the altar utensils—the firepans, meat forks, shovels, basins, and all the containers—must be placed on the cloth, and a covering of fine goatskin leather must be spread over them. Finally, they must put the carrying poles in place. The camp will be ready to move when Aaron and his sons have finished covering the sanctuary and all the sacred articles. The Kohathites will come and carry these things to the next destination. But they must not touch the sacred objects, or they will die. So these are the things from the Tabernacle that the Kohathites must carry. (Numbers 4:11-15 NLT)

What were the responsibilities of Eleazar the son of Aaron in the tabernacle?

The duty of Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest shall be the oil for the light, the sweet incense, the continual meal offering, and the anointing oil, the requirements of all the tabernacle, and of all that is in it, the sanctuary, and its furnishings. Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, Don’t cut off the tribe of the families of the Kohathites from among the Levites; but do this to them, that they may live, and not die, when they approach the most holy things: Aaron and his sons shall go in and appoint everyone to his service and to his burden; but they shall not go in to see the sanctuary even for a moment, lest they die. (Numbers 4:16-20 WEB)

What were the responsibilities of the Levitical tribe of Gershon in the tabernacle and the tent of meeting?

The Lord spoke to Moses: Take a census of the Gershonites also, by their households and their clans. You will enroll those from 30 to 50 years old, all who are eligible for service to do work in the dwelling. This is the duty of the Gershonite clans for work and for carrying the load: They will carry the fabric of the dwelling, the meeting tent with its covering, the outer covering of fine leather, the screen for the entrance of the meeting tent, the curtains of the courtyard, the screen of the entrance at the gate of the courtyard that surrounds the meeting tent and the altar, their cords, and all their equipment for their work. They will do everything that needs to be done with these objects. All the duties of the Gershonites for carrying their load and for their work will be at the command of Aaron and his sons. You will assign to them the responsibility to carry their load. This is the work of the Gershonite clans in the dwelling. Their responsibility will be under Ithamar son of Aaron the priest. (Numbers 4:21-28 CEB)