The Kohathites 4:1-20

 

1 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron:

2 “Take a census of the Kohathite branch of the Levites by their clans and families.

3 Count all the men from thirty to fifty years of age who come to serve in the work at the tent of meeting.

4 “This is the work of the Kohathites at the tent of meeting: the care of the most holy things.

 

하나님은 모세와 아론에게 레위 지파 중에서도 고핫 자손을 30세부터 50세까지 계수하여 성막 봉사에 참여하게 하라고 명령하셨습니다. 고핫 자손은 성소의 가장 거룩한 기구들, 즉 지성물을 다루는 특별한 임무를 부여받았습니다. 이러한 임무는 성막의 핵심 기구들을 안전하게 운반하고 보호하는 것이었습니다.​

​God commanded Moses and Aaron to count the Kohathites among the Levites, specifically those aged 30 to 50, and assign them to serve in the tent of meeting. The Kohathites were entrusted with the care of the most holy things, handling the sacred objects of the sanctuary. Their duties involved safely transporting and protecting these essential items of the tabernacle. 

 

5 When the camp is to move, Aaron and his sons are to go in and take down the shielding curtain and put it over the ark of the covenant law.

6 Then they are to cover the curtain with a durable leather,[a] spread a cloth of solid blue over that and put the poles in place.

7 “Over the table of the Presence they are to spread a blue cloth and put on it the plates, dishes and bowls, and the jars for drink offerings; the bread that is continually there is to remain on it.

8 They are to spread a scarlet cloth over them, cover that with the durable leather and put the poles in place.

9 “They are to take a blue cloth and cover the lampstand that is for light, together with its lamps, its wick trimmers and trays, and all its jars for the olive oil used to supply it.

10 Then they are to wrap it and all its accessories in a covering of the durable leather and put it on a carrying frame.

11 “Over the gold altar they are to spread a blue cloth and cover that with the durable leather and put the poles in place.

12 “They are to take all the articles used for ministering in the sanctuary, wrap them in a blue cloth, cover that with the durable leather and put them on a carrying frame.

13 “They are to remove the ashes from the bronze altar and spread a purple cloth over it.

14 Then they are to place on it all the utensils used for ministering at the altar, including the firepans, meat forks, shovels and sprinkling bowls. Over it they are to spread a covering of the durable leather and put the poles in place.

 

아론과 그 아들들은 모두 제사장입니다. 캠프가 이동을 해야 할 때 아론과 그의 아들들이 먼저 해야 할일들입니다. 제사장이 먼저 성막 안으로 들어가서 이같은 모든 작업을 마쳐야 그 다음에 고핫 자손들이 거룩한 기구들을 운반할 수 있는 것입니다. 하나님은 거룩하십니다. 죄를 가진 인간이 하나님을 볼 수도 없었지만, 하나님의 말씀을 담을 법궤와 거룩하신 하나님께 예배드리는 기구들을 잘못 만졌다간 죽음을 당할 수 있기 때문에 하나님은 인간들을 보호하시기 위해 아주 상세하게 명령을 하고 계십니다.

Aaron and his sons are all priests. When the camp needs to move, Aaron and his sons are the first to perform certain duties. The priests must enter the Tabernacle first to complete all these tasks; only then can the Kohathites transport the holy items. God is holy. Sinful humans could not even see God, and if they mishandled the Ark, which contains God's word, or the sacred items used for worshiping the holy God, they could face death. Therefore, God gives detailed commands to protect humans.

 

15 “After Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy furnishings and all the holy articles, and when the camp is ready to move, only then are the Kohathites to come and do the carrying. But they must not touch the holy things or they will die. The Kohathites are to carry those things that are in the tent of meeting.

16 “Eleazar son of Aaron, the priest, is to have charge of the oil for the light, the fragrant incense, the regular grain offering and the anointing oil. He is to be in charge of the entire tabernacle and everything in it, including its holy furnishings and articles.”

17 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron,

18 “See that the Kohathite tribal clans are not destroyed from among the Levites.

19 So that they may live and not die when they come near the most holy things, do this for them: Aaron and his sons are to go into the sanctuary and assign to each man his work and what he is to carry.

20 But the Kohathites must not go in to look at the holy things, even for a moment, or they will die.”

 

아론과 그의 아들들이 모든 거룩한 기구 덮기를 마치고 이동할 준비가 되고난 후 고핫자손은 들어가서 운반합니다. 하지만 거룩한 물건을 만져서는 안되고 만지면 죽습니다. 하나님께서는 모세와 아론에게 고핫자손을 보호하기 위해 그들이 성물을 운반할 때 제사장이 성막 안에 들어가서 각자가 할 일을 주라고 하십니다. 그리고 고핫자손들은 성물을 보면 죽기 때문에 보지 말라고 상세히 알려주십니다. 이는 하나님의 거룩함 때문에 죄인된 인간이 죽을 수 있다는 것을 미리 알려주신것이고, 인간들을 사랑하시는 하나님의 마음을 볼 수 있습니다. 오늘날 우리는 예수그리스도의 은혜로 대속함을 받아 의인이 되었습니다. 그리스도의 영이 내 안에 계시므로 민수기 시대의 과거와 같은 죽음은 더이상 없습니다. 이 은혜를 날마다 기억하는 유스그룹이 되기를 축복합니다.

 

After Aaron and his sons completed covering all the holy items and prepared for the journey, the Kohathites entered to carry them. However, they were not to touch the sacred objects, as doing so would result in death. To protect the Kohathites during the transportation of the holy items, God instructed Moses and Aaron to assign specific tasks to each within the Tabernacle. Additionally, they were explicitly told not to look at the sacred items, as viewing them would lead to death. This served as a warning about God's holiness and the potential consequences for sinful humans, reflecting God's love and desire to protect them. Today, through the grace of Jesus Christ, we have been redeemed and made righteous. With the Spirit of Christ dwelling within us, we no longer face the same dangers as in the time of Numbers. May we, as a youth group, remember this grace daily.