Numbers 7:4-9
New English Translation
The Distribution of the Gifts
4 Then the Lord spoke to Moses: 5 “Receive these gifts[a] from them, that they may be[b] used in doing the work[c] of the tent of meeting; and you must give them to the Levites, to every man[d] as his service requires.”[e]
6 So Moses accepted the carts and the oxen and gave them to the Levites. 7 He gave two carts and four oxen to the Gershonites, as their service required; 8 and he gave four carts and eight oxen to the Merarites, as their service required, under the authority[f] of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest. 9 But to the Kohathites he gave none, because the service of the holy things, which they carried[g] on their shoulders, was their responsibility.[h]
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Numbers 7:5 tn The object is not in the Hebrew text, but has been supplied.
- Numbers 7:5 tn The verb is the perfect tense with vav (ו) consecutive; following the imperative, this could be given an independent volitive translation (“they shall be”), but more fittingly a subordinated translation expressing the purpose of receiving the gifts.
- Numbers 7:5 tn The sentence uses the infinitive construct expressing purpose, followed by its cognate accusative: “[that they may be] for doing the work of” (literally, “serving the service of”).
- Numbers 7:5 tn The noun אִישׁ (ʾish) is in apposition to the word “Levites,” and is to be taken in a distributive sense: “to the Levites, [to each] man according to his service.”
- Numbers 7:5 tn The expression כְּפִי (kefi) is “according to the mouth of.” Here, it would say “according to the mouth of his service,” which would mean “what his service calls for.”
- Numbers 7:8 tn Heb “hand.”
- Numbers 7:9 tn The verb is the imperfect tense, but it describes their customary activity—they had to carry, they used to carry.
- Numbers 7:9 tn Heb “upon them,” meaning “their duty.”
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