- the charge:
- From this and the next chapter, we see the very severe labour which the Levites were to perform, while the journeyings of the Israelites lasted. When we consider, that there was not less than 14 tons 266 lbs. of metal employed in the tabernacle (see note on "All¹ the goldª that was occupiedª° for the workª in all¹ the workª of the holyª [place], even the goldª of the offering,ª was¹ twentyª and nineª talents,ª and sevenª hundredª and thirtyª shekels,ª after the shekelª of the sanctuary.ª" {Exd 38:24}), besides the immense weight of the skins, hangings, cords, boards, and posts, we shall find it was no easy matter to transport this moveable temple from place to place. The Gershonites, who were 7,500 in number had to carry the tent, coverings, vail, hangings of the court, cords, etc. ("And the chargeª of the sonsª of Gershon²¹ in the tabernacleª of the congregationª [shall be] the tabernacle,ª and the tent,ª the coveringª thereof, and the hangingª for the doorª of the tabernacleª of the congregation,ª" {Num 3:25} and "And the hangingsª of the court,ª and the curtainª for the doorª of the court,ª which¹ [is] by¹ the tabernacle,ª and by¹ the altarª round about,ª and the cordsª of it for all¹ the serviceª thereof." {Num 3:26}); the Kohathites, who were 8,600, the ark, table, candlestick, altars, and instruments of the sanctuary ("And their chargeª [shall be] the ark,ª and the table,ª and the candlestick,ª and the altars,ª and the vesselsª of the sanctuaryª wherewith¹ they minister,ª° and the hanging,ª and all¹ the serviceª thereof." {Num 3:31}); and the Merarites, who were 6,200, the boards, bars, sockets, and all matters connected with these belonging to the tabernacle, with the pillars of the court, their sockets, pins, and cords ("And [under] the custodyª and chargeª of the sonsª of Merariª [shall be] the boardsª of the tabernacle,ª and the barsª thereof, and the pillarsª thereof, and the socketsª thereof, and all¹ the vesselsª thereof, and all¹ that servethª thereto," {Num 3:36} and "And the pillarsª of the courtª round about,ª and their sockets,ª and their pins,ª and their cords.ª" {Num 3:37}). "And they shall keepª°¹ his charge,ª and the chargeª of the whole¹ congregationª beforeª the tabernacleª of the congregation,ª to doª°¹ the serviceª of the tabernacle.ª" {Num 3:7} + "This¹ [is] the serviceª of the familiesª of the Gershonites,ª to serve,ª° and for burdens:ª ... This¹ [is] the serviceª of the familiesª of the sonsª of Gershonª in the tabernacleª of the congregation:ª and their chargeª [shall be] under the handª of Ithamarª the sonª of Aaronª the priest.ª" {Num 4:24-28} + "¹ Twoª wagonsª and fourª oxenª he gaveª° unto the sonsª of Gershon,ª according² to¹ their service:ª" {Num 7:7} + "And the tabernacleª was taken down;ª° and the sonsª of Gershonª and the sonsª of Merariª set forward,ª° bearingª° the tabernacle.ª" {Num 10:17} + "And of¹ the Levites;ª Shemaiahª the sonª of Hasshub,ª the sonª of Azrikam,ª the sonª of Hashabiah,ª of¹ the sonsª of Merari;ª ... And these¹ [are] the singers,ª° chiefª of the fathersª of the Levites,ª [who remaining] in the chambersª [were] free:ª°°² for¹ they were employed¹ in [that] workª dayª and night.ª" {1Ch 9:14-33} + "And that they should keepª°¹ the chargeª of the tabernacleª of the congregation,ª and the chargeª of the holyª [place], and the chargeª of the sonsª of Aaronª their brethren,ª in the serviceª of the houseª of the LORD.ª" {1Ch 23:32} + "[As concerning] the sonsª of Laadan;ª the sonsª of the Gershoniteª Laadan,ª chiefª fathers,ª [even] of Laadanª the Gershonite,ª [were] Jehieli.ª ... The sonsª of Jehieli;ª Zetham,ª and Joelª his brother,ª [which were] over¹ the treasuresª of the houseª of the LORD.ª" {1Ch 26:21-22} + "And Hezekiahª appointedª°¹ the coursesª of the priestsª and the Levitesª after¹ their courses,ª every manª according² to¹ his service,ª the priestsª and Levitesª for burnt offeringsª and for peace offerings,ª to minister,ª° and to give thanks,ª° and to praiseª° in the gatesª of the tentsª of the LORD.ª" {2Ch 31:2} + "Then Hezekiahª commandedª° to prepareª° chambersª in the houseª of the LORD;ª and they preparedª° [them], ... And to the genealogyª° of all¹ their little ones,ª their wives,ª and their sons,ª and their daughters,ª through all¹ the congregation:ª for¹ in their set officeª they sanctified²° themselves¹ in holiness:ª" {2Ch 31:11-18} + "And I saidª° unto¹ them, Ye¹ [are] holyª unto the LORD;ª the vesselsª [are] holyª also; and the silverª and the goldª [are] a freewill offeringª unto the LORDª Godª of your fathers.ª ... So tookª° the priestsª and the Levitesª the weightª of the silver,ª and the gold,ª and the vessels,ª to bringª° [them] to Jerusalemª unto the houseª of our God.ª" {Ezr 8:28-30} + "[For the Son of man is] asª a manª taking a far journey,ª who leftª° his²¹ house,ª andª gaveª° authorityª to his²¹ servants,ª andª to every manª his²¹ work,ª andª commandedª° the¹ porterª toª watch.ª°" {Mrk 13:34} + "Havingª° thenª giftsª differingª accordingª to the¹ graceª that is givenª° to us,ª whetherª prophecy,ª [let us prophesy] accordingª to the¹ proportionª of faith;ª ... Orª he that exhorteth,ª° onª exhortation:ª he that giveth,ª° [let him do it] withª simplicity;ª he that ruleth,ª° withª diligence;ª he that sheweth mercy,ª° withª cheerfulness.ª" {Rom 12:6-8} + "Andª sayª° to Archippus,ª Take heedª° to the¹ ministryª whichª thou hast received²°¹ inª the Lord,ª thatª thou fulfilª° it.ª" {Col 4:17} + "Thisª chargeª I commitª° unto thee,ª sonª Timothy,ª according¹ to² the¹ propheciesª which went beforeª° onª thee,ª thatª thou²° byª themª mightest warª° a goodª warfare;ª" {1Tm 1:18}
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