But he did not give any to the Kohathites, since they were to carry on their shoulders the holy objects for which they were responsible.
Parallel translations
- WEB But to the sons of Kohath he gave none, because the service of the sanctuary belonged to them; they carried it on their shoulders.
- KJV But unto the sons of Kohath he gave none: because the service of the sanctuary belonging unto them was that they should bear upon their shoulders.
- NKJV But to the sons of Kohath he gave none, because theirs was the service of the holy things, which they carried on their shoulders.
- NASB But he did not give any to the sons of Kohath, because theirs was the service of the holy objects, which they carried on the shoulder.
- NLT But he gave none of the wagons or oxen to the Kohathite division, since they were required to carry the sacred objects of the Tabernacle on their shoulders.
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 sons of Kohath receive no wagons, because they carried the holy objects on their shoulders.
Overview
The Kohathites bore the ark and the most sacred furnishings, which were to be carried by hand, not on carts (Num 4:15). The most holy things demanded the most personal, reverent handling. Later, neglect of this very rule cost Uzzah his life (2 Sam 6:6-7), underscoring the seriousness of approaching holy things God's way.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- Num 3:31Their duties were the ark, the table, the lampstand, the altars, the articles of the sanctuary used with them, and the curtain—all the service for these items.
- Num 4:4–16This service of the Kohathites at the Tent of Meeting regards the most holy things.
- 2 Sam 6:13When those carrying the ark of the LORD had advanced six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened calf.
- 1 Chr 15:13It was because you Levites were not with us the first time that the LORD our God burst forth in anger against us. For we did not consult Him about the proper order.”
- 2 Sam 6:6When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen had stumbled.
- 1 Chr 23:26So now the Levites no longer need to carry the tabernacle or any of the articles for its service.”
- 1 Chr 15:3And David assembled all Israel in Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the LORD to the place he had prepared for it.
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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 7:9 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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