PROTECTING THE TABERNACLE
I. Sons Of Aaron
Numbers 1:50-53 (KJ)
50. But thou shalt appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of testimony, and over all the vessels thereof, and over all things that belong to it: they shall bear the tabernacle, and all the vessels thereof; and they shall minister unto it, and shall encamp round about the tabernacle.
God gave the command and assignment to be in charge of Gods house to the Levites (Pastors?). Remember the Levites were the Priests over the twelve tribes of Israel. The Levites were instructed: “shall encamp round about the tabernacle.” This is symbolic of Jesus, as a mediator between God and the Israelites.
51. And when the tabernacle setteth forward, the Levites shall take it down: and when the tabernacle is to be pitched, the Levites shall set it up: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.
Only the Levites could disassemble, carry and re-setup the tabernacle.
52. And the children of Israel shall pitch their tents, every man by his own camp, and every man by his own standard, throughout their hosts.
The twelve different tribes were assigned a specific place to camp around the tabernacle. With God there is always order.
53. But the Levites shall pitch round about the tabernacle of testimony, that there be no wrath upon the congregation of the children of Israel: and the Levites shall keep the charge of the tabernacle of testimony.
Here in this verse the placement of the Levites is re-iterated for a specific purpose, “that there be no wrath upon the congregation of the children of Israel”. This literally points to what Jesus has done for us.
The last part of this verse is another command from God:
“shall keep the charge / guard of the tabernacle of testimony"
Numbers 1:50-53 (VOICE)
50. You will make the Levites responsible for the congregation tent that houses the terms of the covenant, its furnishings, and accoutrements. They will be the ones who carry all of it, maintain it, and camp around it.
51. When it’s time to move, it will be the Levites who pack up that tent; they are the ones who shall set it back up. If any outsider tries to get involved, he will be killed.
52. The rest of the Israelites will camp according to their troops, each extended family under its own banner.
53. Remember: only the Levites shall camp around the congregation tent that houses the terms of the covenant, guarding and servicing that place to spare the Israelites an outbreak of My wrath.
Only the Levite tribe was allowed to protect and guard The Tabernacle. The Levites were the only ones allowed to set up the tabernacle and take it down when God told Moses to move.
Therefore the Levite tribe (Priest) was a mediator between the twelve tribes of Israel and God. No one could help with anything that concerned the tabernacle. This is a clear picture that the Levites (Of the Priestly family) were acting as a mediator between God and the other tribes of Israel.
The Levites Were Divided Into Three Families
The Sons Of Aaron:
A. GershonB. KohathC. Merari
Numbers 3:16-20 (Voice)
16. So Moses did just as the Eternal One told him.
17. Levi’s three sons were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
18. Gershon’s sons, by their clans, were Libni and Shimei.
19. Kohath’s sons, by their clans, were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.
20. Merari’s sons, by their clans, were Mahli and Mushi. These, remember, are specifically the Levite clans by their extended families.
This scripture identifies Aaron’s three sons.
II. ONLY THE LEVITES
Each Of Aaron’s Sons Had Levite Clans Under Them.
Numbers 3:21-26 (Voice)
21. So within Gershon were the Libnite and Shimeite clans.
22. Counting just the males one month old and older, 7,500 were organized.
23. They camped in the area behind the congregation tent on the west.
This verse gives specific positions where to camp around the tabernacle.
24. Eliasaph (Lael’s son) served as head of the Gershonite extended family.
25. Their jobs were to take care of everything related to the congregation tent, both the place of revelation and its covering, the screen for the congregation tent’s entrance,
26. the curtains for the court surrounding the place of revelation and the altar, its entrance screen, the ropes, and anything else for the tent.
The Families of GERSHONITES pitched towards the West, and had under their care the curtains, hangings, and coverings of the Tabernacle and court, which they also bore on their journeys.
Each of the three sons of Aaron had clans / family groups to evenly distribute the work, care, and oversight.
Numbers 3:27-32 (Voice)
27. Within Kohath were the Amramite, Izharite, Hebronite, and Uzzielite clans.
Under Kohath were four clans / family groups mentioned.
28. Counting just the males one month old and older, there were 8,600 who worked for the sacred place.
This gives us a number of the males only, the wife’s and the daughters were not counted. This could easily double or even triple the number of each tribe.
29. They camped on the South side of the congregation tent.
Again a specific place to camp this time it is on the south side of the tabernacle.
30. Uzziel’s son, Elizaphan, was their head.
31. These Kohathites were to take care of everything associated with the chest, the table, the lampstand, the altars, and the furnishings of the sanctuary that the priests use, the screen, and anything else inside the sacred place.
32. Priest Aaron’s son, Eleazar, was head of the Levite leaders. He was in charge of overseeing the people who took care of the sacred place.
The Families of KOHATHITES, as stated in scripture camped on the South end. They were responsible for the Holy vessels. They also were the ones to transport the Holy Articles as well as putting back the articles in their right place within the Holy place and the Holy of Holies, basically everything in the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies.
Numbers 3:35-37 (Voice)
33. Within Merari were the Mahlite and Mushite clans,
34. of whom 6,200 males one month or older were organized.
35. Abihail’s son, Zuriel, was their leader. They were instructed to camp on the northern side of the tent area,
A specific place to camp, we will discuss the importance of the placement further within this study. Hint, remember in the Old Testament how important the names that are given to their Hebrew children.
36. and their work was to maintain the planks of the tent, its bars, posts, and sockets; plus all the furnishings and any other wood items;
37. as well as the posts surrounding the courtyard together with their sockets, pegs, and ropes.
The Families of MERARITES, encamped on the North, watched over, erected, and carried all the solid framework of the building, the pillars of the surrounding courts, together with the sockets of silver and brass. Stop and think the amount of weight that had to be transported. Remember Gold covered planks were exceptionally heavy.
III. GUARDIANS OF THE TABERNACLE
Leadership should always be Protecting God’s Presence.
Numbers 3:38 (KJV)
38. But those that encamp before the tabernacle toward the East, even before the tabernacle of the congregation eastward, shall be Moses, and Aaron and his sons, keeping the charge of the sanctuary for the charge of the children of Israel; and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.
Scripture makes it very clear that leadership should be on the front line, protecting Gods House; that speaks both of physical and spiritual houses (Church building and People). Therefore, Aaron and his son’s: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari camped at the entrance on the East side of the Tabernacle. This means when looking from the courtyard out through the Gate they can see the Sun rising.
Though symbolic, I think of the Son of God rising up in us each morning as we wake up. Does not the joy come in the morning!
Everything having to do with the care of the Tabernacle was distributed among these three sons of Aaron.
