Parsha Bemidbar: Numbers 1:1-4:20

Parsha Bemidbar: Day #7

(Numbers 4:1-20)

(Study Notes)

(Numbers 4:1)

While Hashem typically only addresses Moshe, in this last daily section of Parsha Bemidbar, Hashem speaks to both Moshe and Aaron. Aron was the High Priest who oversaw all of the Levites and their activities and services withing the Tabernacle complex. As we learned in our studies on day #6 of Parsha Bemidbar, Aaron was also the first-born of Amram, who was the first-born of Kohath.

(Numbers 4:2-4)

In the previous sections of this parsha, we have learned about the census of the fighting aged men, the separate census of the Levites, and the census of the first-born males in all of the Tribes of Israel (including the Levites). Here, Hashem commanded both Moshe and Aaron to a separate census of the Kohathites. As we learned previously, the Kohathites are one of the clans within the Tribe of Levi.

The census of the Kohathites was to contain the names of every Kohathite male who was 30-50years old. Each of the names was to be recorded by clan of their ancestral house (meaning their father's house). This tells us that in Hashem's system, a man can be responsible for a firearm starting at the age of 20, but a priest cannot take care of the most holy and sacred objects until he is 30 years of age. Then, between the ages of 30-50, the priest is subject to the service of performing tasks for The Tent of Meeting. We are reminded that the Kohathites were responsible for the most sacred objects in the Tent of Meeting.

In terms of what we now know given modern medicine and psychology, a male does not fully develop mentally until he is in his mid twenties. By age 30, he should be matured to full adulthood mentally. This indicates the seriousness of the priestly services. While it is true that we have an account of young Samuel performing duties in the Temple, Samuel's case was likely not the norm.

(Numbers 4:5-6)

In these passages, we begin to learn about the specific duties that the Kohathites were to perform in service of Hashem. Specifically, the duties discussed are the duties that were to be performed whenever the Tabernacle and camp was to be broken down and moved. In Numbers 9:15-23, we will learn that this movement of the Israelite camp was predicated on the movement of Hashem Himself. As it is written (Revised JPS, 2023):

(Numbers 4:5)

We learn that whenever the LORD's presence moved out of the Tent of Meeting and moved ahead of the Israelites to a new location, the camp was to be broken down in a very specific and orderly fashion. We learn that when the camp was taken down, the first task of the Kohathites was the breaking down of the Holy of Holies.

The process was to be performed by Aaron and his sons only. As we mentioned at the start of today's study, Aaron was the first-born of Amram, the first-born of Kohath. In our studies of Leviticus 16, we learned that only Aaron (the High Priest) is allowed to go into the Holy of Holies and only once per year, on Yom Kippur. However, we also learned in our studies of Leviticus 16 that this limitation was set in place because of the incident with Aaron's first two sons, Nadab and Abihu who were killed for drawing too close to the presence of Hashem.

When the camp was being broken down, the Divine Presence of Hashem moved out from the Holy of Holies. So, there was no danger of drawing too close to Hashem's presence, only the danger of mishandling the most sacred objects. This small detail provides the reason as to why Aaron's son's would be allowed to go into the Holy of Holies when breaking down the Tent of Meeting.

In order to break down the Holy of Holies, Aaron and his sons were to follow a very specific order of steps:

1. Take down the screening curtain (that divided the the Holy of Holies from the inner sanctuary).

2. Place the curtain over the Ark of the Pact (normally, the Presence of Hashem would reside atop the Ark between the two cherubim on the lid).

3. A covering of tahash skin was to be spread over the curtain-covered Ark of the Pact.

4. Then a cloth of pure blue was to be spread over the doubly covered Ark of the Pact.

5. Only after the triple layer of coverings was in place did Aaron and his adjust the carrying poles.

Several Notes:

The Curtain over the Ark of the Pact:

The curtain or the Veil provided the protection to Hashem's Holy Seat that was typical when the Ark and Hashem sat behind the curtain in the Holy of Holies.

Tachash (or Tahash) Skin:

This layer of covering was used a water-resistant layer. Translations abound for the meaning of tachash: from dolphin to badger to sea cow and seal. However, all of these sea-creatures would be unclean. According to Rashi,

We can learn further from Talmud 28b:7-8

There are many misconceptions that this multicolored unicorn was a horse-like creature, yet this cannot be so since a horse is not a clean a animal. The precise nature of this specially created creature is not known, but given the Talmud above, we can likely assume that Hashem created a kosher animal to cover His own most holy and sacred dwelling place.

Whatever this creature actually was, it was specially created by Hashem for the purpose of being utilized as a covering for His Mishkan in the wilderness. This multicolored coat for Hashem's dwelling place seems to harken to Joseph's multi-colored coat, which Jacob had made for his most-beloved son, of his most-beloved wife. Joseph's coat, however, was a source of great jealously and contention for his 10 other brothers (Benjamin had not yet been born).

After having two dreams where Joseph saw that his brothers and family members were going to bow down to him, his brother were enraged. The plotted to kill him, but Ruben (the eldest) said not to kill Joseph. So, they instead stripped Joseph of his multicolored coat and threw him in a pit. They later sold Joseph to Midianite merchants, who sold Joseph to Potiphar in Egypt. It was from this series of events that the entire nation of Hebrews wound up in Egypt, then 430 years of brutal abusive slavery, and finally rescued by Hashem and brought into the wilderness and then the Promised land.

Thus, the coat that led to Egypt would become Hashem's royal coat of victory. The multicolored coat on Hashem's dwelling place would be a daily reminder of the events that led to Egypt and the victory Hashem provided in spite of Egypt. Like Joseph, the Jewish people are the most beloved people to Hashem. The Israelites were chosen as His bride, like Rachael. The coat seems a physical declaration of these facts, as they connect to Joseph.

Finally, The Mishkan was Hashem's personal sukkah that He had built amongst His flock. The multicolored roof would also seem to be a reminder of the Noahide covenant of the bow set in the sky: every time Hashem sees a rainbow, He promises to remember that He promised to never again destroy everything on earth with a flood.

The Blue Cloth:

Though this layer was not water-resistant, it was the to be the outer layer of the coverings that covered the Ark of the Pact. The color of this cloth harkens to the sapphire-colored throne that Ezekiel saw or the sea of blue that Ezekiel saw in front of Hashem in the heavenlies. This blue cloth covered the multicolored tahash skin, which covers the angel-covered veil. This order of coverings seems to directly mimic the order in the Heavenlies that was seen by the prophets:

1. Hashem's throne (The Ark of the Pact)

2. Angels surrounding Hashem's Throne (The cherubim-embroidered veil)

3. The rainbow in front of Hashem's throne

4. The sea of blue before Hashem's throne.

See Eziekiel 1:25-28 (Revised JPS, 2023):

The Carrying Poles:

The statement in Numbers 4:6 seems to indicate that Aaron and his sons placed the carrying poles into the Ark only after it was covered. Yet, we know from passages such as Exodus 25:15 that the carrying poles were to always remain in place so that there would be less of a risk of a Priest (or anyone else) touching a sacred object.

This constant placement of the carrying poles is confirmed in other parts of scripture such as 1 Kings 8:6-8, which describes the Ark of the Pact in the First Temple. (Revised JPS, 2023)

Additionally, 2 Chronicles 5:7-9 (Revised JPS, 2023)

As such, we can gather that the poles always remained in place. When Aaron and his sons were packing up the items, they adjusted the poles to ensure that they were evenly distributed and properly secured to the item to which they were attached. This would ensure that the Kohathites who would come behind Aaron and his sons would be able to move the objects without incident.

(Numbers 4:7-8)

After the Holy of Holies, Aaron and his sons were to pack up the items in the sanctuary for moving. First in order was the Table of the showbread. Like the Ark, the table was to be covered over with a blue cloth. Then, on top of the blue cloth, Aaron and his sons were to place:

1. The bowls

2. The Ladles

3. The Jars

4. The Libation jugs

5. The showbread was to also "rest upon it.

   
   

(See Bamidbar Rabbah 4:14)

After the items were set on the blue-cloth-covered table, Aron and his sons were then to spread a crimson cloth over the items. Then, over the crimson cloth, a tahash skin (multicolored) was to be spread. As with the Ark, the Table of the Show bread has three coverings, but the order is different than the Ark.

1. Blue Cloth: like the heavens

2. Crimson: like blood that is used to cleanse items in the sanctuary

3. Multicolored skin: waterproof, but also perhaps it is a visual reminder that Hashem will not again destroy the earth in a flood. Or an ode to Joseph?

(Numbers 4:9-10)

Next, Aaron and his sons were to pack up the lampstand. Like the Table of the showbread, the Lampstand was first covered with a blue cloth. The blue cloth also was to cover the tongs, the fire pans, and the oil vessels used in its service. Over the blue cloth, a layer of the multicolored skin was spread. Then, everything was placed on a carrying frame (instead of having pole being inserted). (See Bamidbar Rabbah 4:15).

The obvious question arises: if the lampstand was covered, then how could the lamps stay lit when the Israelites traveled? Some sources seem to suggest that the lampstand was not lit while the camp was on the move. While this may seem shocking, we must remember that when the camp moved, Hashem's presence went before the Israelites. He appeared in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night--arguably, the glory Presence of Hashem was far better than the lamps in the menorah.

(Numbers 4:11)

After breaking down and packing up

1. The Holy of Holies,

2. The Ark of the Pact

3. The Table of the Display and

4. The Lampstand

Aaron and his sons were to breakdown and pack up

5. The gold altar, which was the aromatic altar.

The aromatic altar was to be covered with a blue cloth and then a covering of the multicolored tahash skin spread on top. The carrying poles were adjusted last.

Like the lampstand, the fires of this altar were to be covered. However, unlike the candles, the fire on the aromatic altar was kept at a smoldering state according to some sources.

(Numbers 4:12)

We also learn that all of the service vessels and utensils with which the service of the sanctuary are performed were also to be placed into a blue cloth and covered with a cover of the multicolored tahash skin. These covered items, like the lampstand were to be placed on a carrying frame.

(Numbers 4:13)

Nest, Aaron and his sons were to move to the outer courtyard and breakdown and cover the copper altar (or the altar of burnt sacrifices). The first step was to remove the ashes from the copper altar. These ashes were likely taken to a clean place outside of the camp, as we learned in our studies of Leviticus.

After the ashes were removed, a purple cloth was to be spread over the altar.

As with the other altar and the lampstand, the burnt offering altar is covered in cloth. Yet, the fire on this altar is never to go out. Some sources say that the fire was brought down to a smoldering coal and kept ablaze while the Israelites were on the move.

(Numbers 4:14)

On top of the purple-cloth-covered altar, Aaron and his sons were to place the vessels used for the sacrifice services:

1. the fire pans

2. the flesh hooks

3. the scrapers

4. the basins

Then a cover of the multicolored tahash skin was to be draped on top.

(Numbers 4:15)

Only after Aaron and his sons finished covering the sacred objects could the rest of the Kohathites come and lift/move the sacred objects.

The sacred objects could not be touched directly, even when covered. Instead, the Kohathites were to move the covered sacred objects using the carrying poles only. If the Kohathites came into contact with the sacred objects, they would die (see Leviticus 10 and 2 Samuel 6).

We know that the vessels and the utensils were touched daily by the priests. But, when moving the utensils were covered and placed on a covered altar or the covered table. This indicates that that though the utensils were touched daily, the table, the altars, or the lampstands were not touched.

This would make sense, since the altars contained fires that were started by the presence of Hashem. While Hashem is not the altar and He is not the lampstand, nor is He the Ark. But, the holiness of Hashem permeated the objects, making them untouchable.

We saw an example of this with Mt. Sinai--no one was to touch the mountain because of Hashem's presence lest they die. When Hashem will return, Hashem's presence will again permeate the earth to such a vast degree that the land will be called "Hashem our Tzedekenu"--"Hashem our righteousness". Yet, at that time, Hashem will change the state of humanity so that we will all know and do His Torah, so we will be in a state will be able to stand in His presence again unashamed--like Adam and Havah before the first sin.

(Numbers 4:16)

We are told that the sacred responsibility of:

1. The lighting oil

2. The aromatic incense

3. The regular meal offering

4. The anointing oil

5. The who tabernacle

6. Everything consecrated in the Tabernacle

7. Everything in the vessels of the Tabernacle

Belongs to one man: Eleazar son of Aaron. We learned in Numbers 3:32 that Eleazar is the Head Chieftain of all of the Levites.

(Numbers 4:17-20)

Hashem provides a stark warning to Aaron and Moshe not to let the Kohathites be cut off from the Levites. To ensure the Kohathites would not be cut off, Hashem devised the specific plan of laws and order that needed to be followed. He did not leave Moshe, Aaron, nor the Kohathites to guess what they could do to please Hashem.

The main command was to not let the Kohathites go inside the Tabernacle and witness the dismantling of the sanctuary. This command harkens to Noah when he was uncovered by Ham. The Kohathites were not to witness the "state of nakedness" of the sacred objects lest they be cursed like Ham, and cut off from the people and eventually the Promised land (which was promised to the descendants of Shem because of Ham's sins).

Similarly, Aaron and His sons were to be like Shem and Jephath. They were to cover the nakedness of the sacred objects. Only then could the sacred objects be moved.

Am Yisrael Chai!

Kimberly Davis

Notes for 5/16/2026