Numbers 3:38
36 The duties assigned to the sons of Merari were the tabernacle’s frames, crossbars, posts, bases, and all its equipment—all the service for these items,
37 as well as the posts of the surrounding courtyard with their bases, tent pegs, and ropes.
Moses, Aaron, and Aaron’s sons were to camp to the east of the tabernacle, toward the sunrise, before the Tent of Meeting. They were to perform the duties of the sanctuary as a service on behalf of the Israelites; but any outsider who approached the sanctuary was to be put to death.
39 The total number of Levites that Moses and Aaron counted by their clans at the LORD’s command, including all the males a month old or more, was 22,000.
40 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Number every firstborn male of the Israelites a month old or more, and list their names.
This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- Moses, Aaron, and Aaron’s sons were to camp to the east of the tabernacle, toward the sunrise, before the Tent of Meeting. They were to perform the duties of the sanctuary as a service on behalf of the Israelites; but any outsider who approached the sanctuary was to be put to death.
- KJV
- But those that encamp before the tabernacle toward the east, even before the tabernacle of the congregation eastward, shall be Moses, and Aaron and his sons, keeping the charge of the sanctuary for the charge of the children of Israel; and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.
- WEB
- Those who encamp before the tabernacle eastward, in front of the Tent of Meeting toward the sunrise, shall be Moses, with Aaron and his sons, keeping the requirements of the sanctuary for the duty of the children of Israel. The outsider who comes near shall be put to death.
- ASV
- And those that encamp before the tabernacle eastward, before the tent of meeting toward the sunrising, shall be Moses, and Aaron and his sons, keeping the charge of the sanctuary for the charge of the children of Israel; and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.
- DARBY
- And those who encamped before the tabernacle eastward, before the tent of meeting toward the sunrising, were Moses, and Aaron and his sons, who kept the charge of the sanctuary for the charge of the children of Israel; and the stranger that cometh near shall be put to death.
- BLB
- And those who were to camp before the face of the tabernacle on the east, before the face of the Tent of Meeting toward the sunrise, [were] Moses and Aaron and his sons, keeping charge of the sanctuary to meet the needs of the sons of Israel; and the outsider who came near was to be put to death.
- ÅB
- Men foran tabernaklet, mot øst, foran sammenkomstens telt, mot solens oppgang, hadde Moses og Aron og hans sønner sin leir, og de tok vare på det som var å vareta ved helligdommen, det som Israels barn skulle varetatt; men kom en fremmed nær til, skulle han late livet.
- OTB
- De som skulle slå leir foran tabernaklet østover, foran telthelligdommen mot soloppgangen, var Moses og Aron og hans sønner, som utførte pliktene i helligdommen for forpliktelsen til Israels sønner; men den legmann som kom nær skulle dø.
- B1930
- Men foran tabernaklet, mot øst, foran sammenkomstens telt, mot solens opgang, hadde Moses og Aron og hans sønner sin leir, og de tok vare på det som var å vareta ved helligdommen, det som Israels barn skulde varetatt; men kom en fremmed nær til, skulde han late livet.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Numbers 1:53
But the Levites are to camp around the tabernacle of the Testimony and watch over it, so that no wrath will fall on the congregation of Israel. So the Levites are responsible for the tabernacle of the Testimony.”
Read in contextNumbers 3:10
So you shall appoint Aaron and his sons to carry out the duties of the priesthood; but any outsider who approaches the tabernacle must be put to death.”
Read in contextNumbers 2:3
On the east side, toward the sunrise, the divisions of Judah are to camp under their standard: The leader of the descendants of Judah is Nahshon son of Amminadab,
Read in contextNumbers 3:23
The Gershonite clans were to camp on the west, behind the tabernacle,
Read in contextNumbers 18:1–5
So the LORD said to Aaron, “You and your sons and your father’s house must bear the iniquity involving the sanctuary. And you and your sons alone must bear the iniquity involving your priesthood.
Read in contextNumbers 1:51
Whenever the tabernacle is to move, the Levites are to take it down, and whenever it is to be pitched, the Levites are to set it up. Any outsider who goes near it must be put to death.
Read in contextNumbers 3:29
The clans of the Kohathites were to camp on the south side of the tabernacle,
Read in contextNumbers 3:7–8
They are to perform duties for him and for the whole congregation before the Tent of Meeting, attending to the service of the tabernacle.
Read in context