And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,
The opening words introduce the Lord's instructions to Moses and Aaron for the ordered service of the Levites in caring for, handling, and transporting the tabernacle. The work was divided by family and task, with the Kohathites, Merarites, and Gershonites each caring for designated parts of the sanctuary. They carried the ark and the tabernacle furnishings and set them up and took them down during travel and at each stopping place, while the other tribes camped at a distance. Israel's journeys and encampments themselves followed appointed standards and signals, with clear directions so the people could know what to do.
The Levites were honored with this responsibility in connection with their faithfulness at the time of the worship of the golden calf and in carrying out God's command against the idolaters. The service was sacred and restricted to those appointed for it, not open to any tribe or person who chose it. Each worker was to perform his own assigned duties and not take over another's. Approaching or touching sacred things without authorization was forbidden, and ignoring or violating these known requirements brought the stated penalty of death. Claimed ignorance was no excuse when there had been opportunity to learn.
The directions show that God is a God of order who requires order and organization in sacred service. His arrangements are to be followed and not resisted. Israel's wilderness history in this warns later generations against disobedience, so the principle continues to apply.
The opening words introduce the Lord's instructions to Moses and Aaron for the ordered service of the Levites in caring for, handling, and transporting the tabernacle. The work was divided by family and task, with the Kohathites, Merarites, and Gershonites each caring for designated parts of the sanctuary. They carried the ark and the tabernacle furnishings and set them up and took them down during travel and at each stopping place, while the other tribes camped at a distance. Israel's journeys and encampments themselves followed appointed standards and signals, with clear directions so the people could know what to do.
The Levites were honored with this responsibility in connection with their faithfulness at the time of the worship of the golden calf and in carrying out God's command against the idolaters. The service was sacred and restricted to those appointed for it, not open to any tribe or person who chose it. Each worker was to perform his own assigned duties and not take over another's. Approaching or touching sacred things without authorization was forbidden, and ignoring or violating these known requirements brought the stated penalty of death. Claimed ignorance was no excuse when there had been opportunity to learn.
The directions show that God is a God of order who requires order and organization in sacred service. His arrangements are to be followed and not resisted. Israel's wilderness history in this warns later generations against disobedience, so the principle continues to apply.