They shall put it and all its vessels within a covering of sealskin, and shall put it on the frame.
Parallel translations
- KJV And they shall put it and all the vessels thereof within a covering of badgers’ skins, and shall put it upon a bar.
- BSB Then they shall wrap it and all its utensils inside a covering of fine leather and put it on the carrying frame.
- NKJV Then they shall put it with all its utensils in a covering of badger skins, and put it on a carrying beam.
- NASB and they shall put it and all its utensils in a covering of fine leather, and put it on the carrying bars.
- NLT Then they must cover the lampstand and its accessories with fine goatskin leather and place the bundle on a carrying frame.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The lampstand and its vessels were enclosed in sealskin and placed on a carrying frame. Its holy items were kept secure and untouched.
Overview
The sealskin outer covering shielded the lampstand from weather and view, and the frame allowed it to be borne without direct handling. This meticulous care reflects the reverence due to anything set apart for God. It reminds believers that God orders the means by which His holy things, and ultimately His presence, are approached.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 2
- Num 4:12“They shall take all the vessels of ministry, with which they minister in the sanctuary, and put them in a blue cloth, and cover them with a covering of sealskin, and shall put them on the frame.
- Num 4:6and shall put a covering of sealskin on it, and shall spread over it a cloth all of blue, and shall put in its poles.
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Christ at the center
In the wilderness Christ is the water from the rock, the bronze serpent lifted up that the dying might look and live (John 3:14), and the star and scepter that Balaam saw rising out of Jacob.
How Numbers 4:10 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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