Numbers 4:9
And they shall take a cloth of blue, and cover the candlestick of the light, and his lamps, and his tongs, and his snuffdishes, and all the oil vessels thereof, wherewith they minister unto it: And they shall take a cloth of blue, and cover the candlestick of the light, and his lamps, and his tongs, and his snuffdishes, and all the oil vessels thereof, wherewith they minister unto it:
Numbers 4:9 is part of God's instructions to the Levites for caring for the tabernacle and preparing its furnishings for transport during Israel's journeys. It belongs to the ordered work assigned to the Levites for the tabernacle while Israel traveled, concerning the service of transporting the tabernacle and its sacred furniture. It directs that the candlestick of the light, with its lamps and its tongs and snuffdishes or tools, and all the oil vessels used in ministering to it, were to be covered with a cloth of blue before being carried. The lampstand and its lamps, tools, and oil vessels were thus to be covered in a prescribed way when the tabernacle was prepared for transport, as part of the furnishings entrusted to appointed Levites.
The work was divided by divine assignment, with each division having its own specific duties and responsibility for particular sacred objects. The sacred furniture was entrusted to the Kohathites as the appointed carriers for Israel's journeys. The handling was governed by a prescribed, orderly procedure rather than left to individual choice. It was required to be done in an orderly way, by people who respected its holiness. This careful arrangement reflects the reverence due to the lampstand and to everything belonging to the sanctuary and connected with it.
The Levites' assigned office was to erect the tabernacle and encamp around about it while the hosts of Israel pitched their tents at a distance from it. When Israel journeyed they were to take down the tabernacle and bear it with the ark and the candlestick and the other sacred articles of furniture. This honored service was given to the Levites because they took no part in making and worshiping the golden calf and because of their faithfulness in executing God's order upon the idolaters. Because God thus honored them, they became ambitious for still higher office to obtain greater influence with the congregation, seeking the priesthood and the government and gathering themselves together against Moses and against Aaron.