Torah Portion BeMidbar

Torah Portion BeMidbar

Numbers 1:1-4:20

Num 1:1 YHWH spoke to Moshe in the wilderness of Sinai, in the Tent of Meeting, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying,

It is Iyar the first, one year and about two weeks from the original Exodus.

Numbers, continued:

Num 1:2  “Take a census of all the congregation of the children of Yisra’el, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of the names, every male, one by one;

Num 1:3  from twenty years old and upward, all who are able to go out to war in Yisra’el. You and Aharon shall number them by their divisions.

Num 1:4  With you there shall be a man of every tribe; everyone head of his fathers’ house.

Num 1:5  These are the names of the men who shall stand with you: Of Re’uven: Elitzur the son of Shede’ur.

Num 1:6  Of Shim`on: Shelumi’el the son of Tzurishaddai.

Num 1:7  Of Yehudah: Nachshon the son of `Amminadav.

Num 1:8  Of Yissakhar: Netan’el 1 the son of Tzu`ar.

Num 1:9  Of Zevulun: Eli’av the son of Chelon.

Num 1:10  Of the children of Yosef: Of Efrayim: Elishama the son of `Ammihud. Of Menasheh: Gamli’el the son of Pedatzur.

Num 1:11  Of Binyamin: Avidan the son of Gid`oni.

Num 1:12  Of Dan: Achi`ezer the son of `Ammishaddai.

Num 1:13  Of Asher: Pag`i’el the son of `Okhran.

Num 1:14  Of Gad: Elyasaf the son of De`u’el.

Num 1:15  Of Naftali: Achira the son of `Enan.”

Num 1:16  These are those who were called of the congregation, the princes of the tribes of their fathers; they were the heads of the thousands of Yisra’el.

These are only the military of Israel who are numbered.  Only those able to serve are counted.  This excludes:

All women, all children, all of the mixed-multitude who are not native-born Israelites, all too old to bear weapons, all who have physical or mental handicaps or deformities that prevent them from serving in the military, and all Levites, who do not serve in the military.

Numbers, continued:

Num 1:17  Moshe and Aharon took these men who are mentioned by name.

Num 1:18  They assembled all the congregation together on the first day of the second month; and they declared their ancestry by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, one by one.

Which, again, excludes the mixed multitude.

Numbers, continued:

Num 1:19  As YHWH commanded Moshe, so he numbered them in the wilderness of Sinai.

Num 1:20  The children of Re’uven, Yisra’el’s firstborn, their generations, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of the names, one by one, every male from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go out to war;

Num 1:21  those who were numbered of them, of the tribe of Re’uven, were forty-six thousand five hundred.

Num 1:22  Of the children of Shim`on, their generations, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, those who were numbered of it, according to the number of the names, one by one, every male from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go out to war;

Num 1:23  those who were numbered of them, of the tribe of Shim`on, were fifty-nine thousand three hundred.

Num 1:24  Of the children of Gad, their generations, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go out to war;

Num 1:25  those who were numbered of them, of the tribe of Gad, were forty-five thousand six hundred fifty.

Num 1:26  Of the children of Yehudah, their generations, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go out to war;

Num 1:27  those who were numbered of them, of the tribe of Yehudah, were sixty-four thousand six hundred.

Num 1:28  Of the children of Yissakhar, their generations, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go out to war;

Num 1:29  those who were numbered of them, of the tribe of Yissakhar, were fifty-four thousand four hundred.

Num 1:30  Of the children of Zevulun, their generations, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go out to war;

Num 1:31  those who were numbered of them, of the tribe of Zevulun, were fifty-seven thousand four hundred.

Num 1:32  Of the children of Yosef, of the children of Efrayim, their generations, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go out to war;

Num 1:33  those who were numbered of them, of the tribe of Efrayim, were forty thousand five hundred.

Num 1:34  Of the children of Menasheh, their generations, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go out to war;

Num 1:35  those who were numbered of them, of the tribe of Menasheh, were thirty-two thousand two hundred.

Num 1:36  Of the children of Binyamin, their generations, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go out to war;

Num 1:37  those who were numbered of them, of the tribe of Binyamin, were thirty-five thousand four hundred.

Num 1:38 Of the children of Dan, their generations, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go forth to war;

Num 1:39  those who were numbered of them, of the tribe of Dan, were sixty-two thousand seven hundred.

Num 1:40  Of the children of Asher, their generations, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go forth to war;

Num 1:41  those who were numbered of them, of the tribe of Asher, were forty-one thousand five hundred.

Num 1:42  Of the children of Naftali, their generations, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go forth to war;

Num 1:43  those who were numbered of them, of the tribe of Naftali, were fifty-three thousand four hundred.

Num 1:44  These are those who were numbered, whom Moshe and Aharon numbered, and the princes of Yisra’el, being twelve men: they were each one for his fathers’ house.

Num 1:45  So all those who were numbered of the children of Yisra’el by their fathers’ houses, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go out to war in Yisra’el;

Num 1:46  even all those who were numbered were six hundred three thousand five hundred fifty.

Num 1:47  But the Levites after the tribe of their fathers were not numbered among them.

Num 1:48  For YHWH spoke to Moshe, saying,

Num 1:49  “Only the tribe of Levi you shall not number, neither shall you take a census of them among the children of Yisra’el;

Num 1:50  but appoint the Levites over the Tabernacle of the Testimony, and over all its furnishings, and over all that belongs to it. They shall carry the tabernacle, and all its furnishings; and they shall take care of it, and shall encamp around it.

Num 1:51  When the tabernacle is to move, the Levites shall take it down; and when the tabernacle is to be set up, the Levites shall set it up. The stranger who comes near shall be put to death.

Num 1:52  The children of Yisra’el shall pitch their tents, every man by his own camp, and every man by his own standard, according to their divisions.

Num 1:53  But the Levites shall encamp around the Tabernacle of the Testimony, that there may be no wrath on the congregation of the children of Yisra’el: and the Levites shall be responsible for the Tabernacle of the Testimony.”

Num 1:54  Thus the children of Yisra’el did. According to all that YHWH commanded Moshe, so they did.

Num 2:1 YHWH spoke to Moshe and to Aharon, saying,

Num 2:2  “The children of Yisra’el shall encamp every man by his own standard, with the banners of their fathers’ houses: at a distance from the tent of meeting shall they encamp around it.”

Presumably, those of the mixed multitude would camp in a ring outside the ring around the Tabernacle made by the 12 Tribes of Israel.  So there were three concentric rings, starting with the innermost Levite ring, followed by the ring of the 12 tribes, followed by the mixed multitude.  In prophecy, this represents the Bride of Messiah (Yom Teruah Torah True Believers) as the innermost rings, the House of Israel (Yom Kippur Torah True Jews/Believers), and righteous gentiles (sheep & goats survivors).

Numbers, continued:

Num 2:3  Those who encamp on the east side toward the sunrise shall be of the standard of the camp of Yehudah, according to their divisions: and the prince of the children of Yehudah shall be Nachshon the son of `Amminadav.

Num 2:4  His division, and those who were numbered of them, were seventy-four thousand six hundred.

Num 2:5  Those who encamp next to him shall be the tribe of Yissakhar: and the prince of the children of Yissakhar shall be Netan’el 1 the son of Tzu`ar.

Num 2:6  His division, and those who were numbered of it, were fifty-four thousand four hundred.

Num 2:7  The tribe of Zevulun: and the prince of the children of Zevulun shall be Eli’av the son of Chelon.

Num 2:8  His division, and those who were numbered of it, were fifty-seven thousand four hundred.

Num 2:9  All who were numbered of the camp of Yehudah were one hundred eighty-six thousand four hundred, according to their divisions. They shall set out first.

Num 2:10  “On the south side shall be the standard of the camp of Re’uven according to their divisions. The prince of the children of Re’uven shall be Elitzur the son of Shede’ur.

Num 2:11  His division, and those who were numbered of it, were forty-six thousand five hundred.

Num 2:12  “Those who encamp next to him shall be the tribe of Shim`on. The prince of the children of Shim`on shall be Shelumi’el the son of Tzurishaddai.

Num 2:13  His division, and those who were numbered of them, were fifty-nine thousand three hundred.

Num 2:14  “The tribe of Gad: and the prince of the children of Gad shall be Elyasaf the son of Re`u’el.

Num 2:15  His division, and those who were numbered of them, were forty-five thousand six hundred fifty.

Num 2:16  “All who were numbered of the camp of Re’uven were one hundred fifty-one thousand four hundred fifty, according to their armies. They shall set out second.

Num 2:17  “Then the tent of meeting shall set out, with the camp of the Levites in the midst of the camps. As they encamp, so shall they set out, every man in his place, by their standards.

Num 2:18  “On the west side shall be the standard of the camp of Efrayim according to their divisions: and the prince of the children of Efrayim shall be Elishama the son of `Ammihud.

Num 2:19  His division, and those who were numbered of them, were forty thousand five hundred.

Num 2:20  “Next to him shall be the tribe of Menasheh: and the prince of the children of Menasheh shall be Gamli’el the son of Pedatzur.

Num 2:21  His division, and those who were numbered of them, were thirty-two thousand two hundred.

Num 2:22  “The tribe of Binyamin: and the prince of the children of Binyamin shall be Avidan the son of Gid`oni.

Num 2:23  His army, and those who were numbered of them, were thirty-five thousand four hundred.

Num 2:24  “All who were numbered of the camp of Efrayim were one hundred eight thousand one hundred, according to their divisions. They shall set out third.

Num 2:25  “On the north side shall be the standard of the camp of Dan according to their divisions: and the prince of the children of Dan shall be Achi`ezer the son of `Ammishaddai.

Num 2:26  His division, and those who were numbered of them, were sixty-two thousand seven hundred.

Num 2:27  “Those who encamp next to him shall be the tribe of Asher: and the prince of the children of Asher shall be Pag`i’el the son of `Okhran.

Num 2:28  His division, and those who were numbered of them, were forty-one thousand and five hundred.

Num 2:29  “The tribe of Naftali: and the prince of the children of Naftali shall be Achira the son of `Enan.

Num 2:30  His division, and those who were numbered of them, were fifty-three thousand four hundred.

Num 2:31  “All who were numbered of the camp of Dan were one hundred fifty-seven thousand six hundred. They shall set out last by their standards.”

Num 2:32  These are those who were numbered of the children of Yisra’el by their fathers’ houses. All who were numbered of the camps according to their armies were six hundred three thousand five hundred fifty.

Num 2:33  But the Levites were not numbered among the children of Yisra’el; as YHWH commanded Moshe.

Num 2:34  Thus the children of Yisra’el did. According to all that YHWH commanded Moshe, so they encamped by their standards, and so they set out, everyone by their families, according to their fathers’ houses.

Num 3:1 Now this is the history of the generations of Aharon and Moshe in the day that YHWH spoke with Moshe in Mount Sinai.

Num 3:2  These are the names of the sons of Aharon: Nadav the firstborn, and Avihu, El`azar, and Itamar.

Num 3:3  These are the names of the sons of Aharon, the Kohanim who were anointed, whom he consecrated to minister in the Kohen’s office.

Num 3:4  Nadav and Avihu died before YHWH, when they offered strange fire before YHWH, in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children. El`azar and Itamar ministered in the Kohen’s office in the presence of Aharon their father.

Num 3:5  YHWH spoke to Moshe, saying,

Num 3:6  “Bring the tribe of Levi near, and set them before Aharon the Kohen, that they may minister to him.

Num 3:7  They shall keep his charge, and the charge of the whole congregation before the Tent of Meeting, to do the service of the tabernacle.

Num 3:8  They shall keep all the furnishings of the Tent of Meeting, and the obligations of the children of Yisra’el, to do the service of the tabernacle.

Num 3:9  You shall give the Levites to Aharon and to his sons. They are wholly given to him on the behalf of the children of Yisra’el.

Num 3:10 You shall appoint Aharon and his sons, and they shall keep their priesthood. The stranger who comes near shall be put to death.”

Num 3:11  YHWH spoke to Moshe, saying,

Num 3:12  “Behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Yisra’el instead of all the firstborn who open the womb among the children of Yisra’el; and the Levites shall be mine:

Num 3:13 for all the firstborn are mine. On the day that I struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I made holy to me all the firstborn in Yisra’el, both man and animal. They shall be mine. I am YHWH.”

Every firstborn of men and beast belongs to YHWH by divine decree.  As we saw last week, the firstborn of beasts is dedicated to YHWH, and cannot be redeemed.  Originally, prior to Sinai, the firstborn male of the family acted in the capacity of Priest.  The Levites are now substituted for the Priesthood of the Firstborn.  Yeshua, however, as our new High Priest, reinstates the Priesthood of the Firstborn, above and beyond (and pre-dating) the Levites.  This does not mean the Levites are “done away with,” it simply means they are now sub-ordinate to the ultimate Firstborn, Yeshua HaMashiach.

Not only that, but passages such as this one in Ezekiel describing the Millennial Kingdom prove that the Parousia cannot be at the end of the Tribulation, since it clearly describes people marrying and dying – and therefore inheriting status during the Messianic Era.

Eze 44:1  Then he brought me back by the way of the outer gate of the sanctuary, which looks toward the east; and it was shut.

Eze 44:2  YHWH said to me, This gate shall be shut; it shall not be opened, neither shall any man enter in by it; for YHWH, the Elohim of Yisra’el, has entered in by it; therefore it shall be shut.

This passage gives us the context of chapter 44:  after the return of the King of Kings and the establishment of the Millennial Kingdom and the cleansing and dedication of the Temple – on or after Chanukkah following the second advent.

Eze 44:15 But the Kohanim the Levites, the sons of Tzadok, who kept the charge of my sanctuary when the children of Yisra’el went astray from me, they shall come near to me to minister to me; and they shall stand before me to offer to me the fat and the blood, says Adonai YHWH:

Eze 44:16  they shall enter into my sanctuary, and they shall come near to my table, to minister to me, and they shall keep my charge.

Eze 44:17  It shall be that, when they enter in at the gates of the inner court, they shall be clothed with linen garments; and no wool shall come on them, while they minister in the gates of the inner court, and within.

Eze 44:18  They shall have linen tires on their heads, and shall have linen breeches on their waists; they shall not gird themselves with [anything that causes] sweat.

Eze 44:19  When they go forth into the outer court, even into the outer court to the people, they shall put off their garments in which they minister, and lay them in the holy chambers; and they shall put on other garments, that they not sanctify the people with their garments.

Eze 44:20  Neither shall they shave their heads, nor allow their locks to grow long; they shall only cut off the hair of their heads.

Eze 44:21  Neither shall any of the Kohanim drink wine, when they enter into the inner court.

Eze 44:22  Neither shall they take for their wives a widow, nor her who is put away; but they shall take virgins of the seed of the house of Yisra’el, or a widow who is the widow of a Kohen.

Notice these guys are marrying in the millennial kingdom – they are mortal.  They have not been transformed into immortality.  They marry and pass on their status as priests and firstborn (if applicable) to their offspring.

Eze 44:23  They shall teach my people the difference between the holy and the common, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.

Eze 44:24  In a controversy they shall stand to judge; according to my ordinances shall they judge it: and they shall keep my laws and my statutes in all my appointed feasts; and they shall make my Shabbatot holy.

Eze 44:25  They shall go in to no dead person to defile themselves; but for father, or for mother, or for son, or for daughter, for brother, or for sister who has had no husband, they may defile themselves.

People die in the millennial kingdom, too.  Not everyone is immortal – the sheep and goats, the survivors of WWII both of the House of Israel and of the righteous gentiles, enter the kingdom as mortals, have children, live and die as mortals.

Eze 44:26  After he is cleansed, they shall reckon to him seven days.

Eze 44:27  In the day that he goes into the sanctuary, into the inner court, to minister in the sanctuary, he shall offer his sin offering, says Adonai YHWH.

Numbers, continued:

Num 3:14  YHWH spoke to Moshe in the wilderness of Sinai, saying,

Num 3:15  “Number the children of Levi by their fathers’ houses, by their families: every male from a month old and upward shall you number.”

Num 3:16  Moshe numbered them according to the word of YHWH, as he was commanded.

Num 3:17  These were the sons of Levi by their names: Gershon, and Kehat, and Merari.

Num 3:18  These are the names of the sons of Gershon by their families: Livni and Shim`i.

Num 3:19  The sons of Kehat by their families: `Amram, and Yitzhar, Chevron, and `Uzzi’el.

Num 3:20  The sons of Merari by their families: Machli and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites according to their fathers’ houses.

Num 3:21  Of Gershon was the family of the Livni, and the family of the Shim`i: these are the families of the Gershoni.

Num 3:22  Those who were numbered of them, according to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, even those who were numbered of them were seven thousand five hundred.

Num 3:23  The families of the Gershoni shall encamp behind the tabernacle westward.

Num 3:24  The prince of the fathers’ house of the Gershoni shall be Elyasaf the son of La’el.

Num 3:25 The charge of the sons of Gershon in the Tent of Meeting shall be the tabernacle, and the tent, its covering, and the screen for the door of the Tent of Meeting,

Num 3:26 and the hangings of the court, and the screen for the door of the court, which is by the tabernacle, and around the altar, and its cords for all of its service.

Num 3:27  Of Kehat was the family of the `Amrami, and the family of the Izharites, and the family of the Chevroni, and the family of the `Uzzi’eli: these are the families of the Kehati.

Num 3:28  According to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, there were eight thousand six hundred, keeping the charge of the sanctuary.

Num 3:29  The families of the sons of Kehat shall encamp on the south side of the tabernacle.

Num 3:30  The prince of the fathers’ house of the families of the Kehati shall be Elitzafan the son of `Uzzi’el.

Num 3:31  Their charge shall be the ark, the table, the lamp stand, the altars, the vessels of the sanctuary with which they minister, and the screen, and all its service.

Num 3:32  El`azar the son of Aharon the Kohen shall be prince of the princes of the Levites, with the oversight of those who keep the charge of the sanctuary.

Num 3:33  Of Merari was the family of the Machli, and the family of the Mushi. These are the families of Merari.

Num 3:34  Those who were numbered of them, according to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, were six thousand two hundred.

Num 3:35  The prince of the fathers’ house of the families of Merari was Tzuri’el the son of Avichayil. They shall encamp on the north side of the tabernacle.

Num 3:36  The appointed charge of the sons of Merari shall be the tabernacle’s boards, its bars, its pillars, its sockets, all its instruments, all its service,

Num 3:37 the pillars of the court around it, their sockets, their pins, and their cords.

Num 3:38  Those who encamp before the tabernacle eastward, in front of the Tent of Meeting toward the sunrise, shall be Moshe, and Aharon and his sons, keeping the charge of the sanctuary for the charge of the children of Yisra’el. The stranger who comes near shall be put to death.

Num 3:39  All who were numbered of the Levites, whom Moshe and Aharon numbered at the mitzvah of YHWH, by their families, all the males from a month old and upward, were twenty-two thousand.

Num 3:40  YHWH said to Moshe, “Number all the firstborn males of the children of Yisra’el from a month old and upward, and take the number of their names.

The actual number of the old order of the Priesthood of the Firstborn must be compared to the number of Levites, to make sure the exchange is measure for measure.

Numbers, continued:

Num 3:41  You shall take the Levites for me (I am YHWH) instead of all the firstborn among the children of Yisra’el; and the livestock of the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the livestock of the children of Yisra’el.”

Num 3:42  Moshe numbered, as YHWH commanded him, all the firstborn among the children of Yisra’el.

Num 3:43  All the firstborn males according to the number of names, from a month old and upward, of those who were numbered of them, were twenty-two thousand two hundred seventy-three.

Num 3:44  YHWH spoke to Moshe, saying,

Num 3:45  “Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the children of Yisra’el, and the livestock of the Levites instead of their livestock; and the Levites shall be mine. I am YHWH.

Num 3:46  For the redemption of the two hundred seventy-three of the firstborn of the children of Yisra’el, who exceed the number of the Levites,

Num 3:47 you shall take five shekels apiece for each one; after the shekel of the sanctuary you shall take them (the shekel is twenty gerahs):

Num 3:48 and you shall give the money, with which the remainder of them is redeemed, to Aharon and to his sons.“

Num 3:49  Moshe took the redemption money from those who exceeded the number of those who were redeemed by the Levites;

Num 3:50  from the firstborn of the children of Yisra’el he took the money, one thousand three hundred sixty-five shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary:

Num 3:51  and Moshe gave the redemption money to Aharon and to his sons, according to the word of YHWH, as YHWH commanded Moshe.

Redemption funds were accepted in place of the difference between the actual number of Firstborns according to the old order and the number of Levites of the new order of priests.

Numbers, continued:

Num 4:1 YHWH spoke to Moshe and to Aharon, saying,

Num 4:2  “Take a census of the sons of Kehat from among the sons of Levi, by their families, by their fathers’ houses,

Num 4:3  from thirty years old and upward even until fifty years old, all who enter into the service, to do the work in the Tent of Meeting.

Num 4:4  This is the service of the sons of Kehat in the Tent of Meeting, the most holy things.

One only served in the Tabernacle from age 30 to age 50.  It should be noted that Yeshua began His ministry at about 30 years of age, since prior to that time He was not eligible to serve in the capacity of priest (who were also assigned to teach Torah).  The Pharisees and their modern descendants, the ultra-orthodox Rabbinate, have usurped the place of the Levites.  While it is true that some Rabbis are Kohanim, most are not.  Some, such as the famous Rabbi Akiva, are even converts.  While genetic testing of men is now available to see if they have the “cohen gene” on their y-chromosome, the Rabbis do not accept this as proof a man is of the House of Levi.

Numbers, continued:

Num 4:5  When the camp moves forward, Aharon shall go in, and his sons, and they shall take down the veil of the screen, and cover the ark of the Testimony with it,

Num 4:6  and shall put a covering of sealskin on it, and shall spread over it a cloth all of blue, and shall put in its poles.

Num 4:7  On the table of show bread they shall spread a blue cloth, and put on it the dishes, the spoons, the bowls, and the cups with which to pour out; and the continual bread shall be on it.

Num 4:8  They shall spread on them a scarlet cloth, and cover the same with a covering of sealskin, and shall put in its poles.

Num 4:9  They shall take a blue cloth, and cover the menorah of the light, and its lamps, and its snuffers, and its snuff dishes, and all its oil vessels, with which they minister to it.

Num 4:10  They shall put it and all its vessels within a covering of sealskin, and shall put it on the frame.

Num 4:11  On the golden altar they shall spread a blue cloth, and cover it with a covering of sealskin, and shall put in its poles.

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 4:13  They shall take away the ashes from the altar, and spread a purple cloth on it.

Num 4:14  They shall put on it all its vessels, with which they minister about it, the fire pans, the flesh hooks, the shovels, and the basins; all the vessels of the altar; and they shall spread on it a covering of sealskin, and put in its poles.

None of these holy things was to be visible to ordinary people when the Israelite camp was traveling.  All those pictures you have seen showing them carrying the ark exposed to the air are not accurate.  It traveled with a cover.

Numbers, continued:

Num 4:15  “When Aharon and his sons have finished covering the sanctuary, and all the furniture of the sanctuary, as the camp moves forward; after that, the sons of Kehat shall come to carry it: but they shall not touch the sanctuary, lest they die. These things are the burden of the sons of Kehat in the Tent of Meeting.

So Aharon and the hereditary priesthood prepares everything for travel, and then certain Levite tribes are assigned to transport various sections.

Numbers, continued:

Num 4:16  “The charge of El`azar the son of Aharon the Kohen shall be the oil for the light, the sweet incense, the continual meal offering, and the anointing oil, the charge of all the tabernacle, and of all that is in it, the sanctuary, and its furnishings.”

Num 4:17  YHWH spoke to Moshe and to Aharon, saying,

Num 4:18  “Don’t cut off the tribe of the families of the Kehati from among the Levites;

Num 4:19  but thus do to them, that they may live, and not die, when they approach to the most holy things: Aharon and his sons shall go in, and appoint them everyone to his service and to his burden;

Num 4:20 but they shall not go in to see the sanctuary even for a moment, lest they die.“

They only come in after everything has already been disassembled and packed away.  At the end of their traveling, when the cloud or fire pillar stops, they lay down their burdens and then Aharon and his sons would have had to re-assemble everything themselves.  The Levites would be excluded, only the direct hereditary priesthood may be “inside” the sanctuary, even when it hasn’t been assembled yet.

Next:  Haftarah BeMidbar.