The Tabernacle, Temple, and Sanctuary: The Book of Numbers

By Dennis Herman

This is the forth book in this series that began with an in-depth look at how God views details, communicates with this world, and decides what process to use. Of course this series of books looked at aspects recorded in scripture about the Tabernacle. How the materials were collected, specific design details, who did the work, and how the Tabernacle was constructed. Much of that information is found in dozens, maybe hundreds of other books about the Tabernacle. But there are details setting this book apart from every other book written about the Tabernacle. This book takes a verse by verse, story by story, chapter by chapter look at the Tabernacle. In other words, this book presents a picture of the Tabernacle from God's point of view. Which the beginning of this series pointed out, is much different than any human perspective.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Feb 5, 2016
• ISBN: 9781329882393

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The Tabernacle, Temple, and Sanctuary: The Book of Numbers

The Tabernacle, Temple, and Sanctuary

The Book of Numbers

Written by Dennis Herman

Copyright © 2016 Dennis Herman

All rights reserved

ISBN-978-1-329-88239-3

The Tabernacle, Temple, and Sanctuary: The Book of Numbers

by Dennis Herman

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Bibles:

NLTse New Living. Translation®. SECOND EDITION Tyndale House Publishers, Inc

KJV King James Version

MKJV Modern King James Version Sovereign Grace Publishers

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) (NLTse) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Introduction

This is the forth book in this series that began with an in-depth look at how God views details, communicates with this world, and decides what process to use. Which of course turned out to be far different than the process most of us would have used for situations similar to those Moses encountered. The first book in this series looked at God's way of doing what needs to be done, and why He created and followed His specific plan.

Of course this series of books looked at aspects recorded in scripture about the Tabernacle. How the materials were collected, specific design details, who did the work, and how the Tabernacle was constructed. Much of that information is found in dozens, maybe hundreds of other books about the Tabernacle. But there are details setting this book apart from every other book written about the Tabernacle. This book takes a verse by verse, story by story, chapter by chapter look at the Tabernacle. In other words, this book presents a picture of the Tabernacle from God's point of view. Which the beginning of this series pointed out, is much different than any human perspective.

Much to my surprise, and I am sure yours once you begin reading, the majority of Moses' books deal not so much with the physical aspects of the Tabernacle, nor the spiritual meaning they hold. As a matter of fact, Moses didn't reveal many ideas or concepts on the spiritual meaning of any of the articles inside the Tabernacle, or services performed. We can skip around other books in the Bible to see what those items, sacrifices, offerings, and feast days pointed to, but that would only cover a very small part of the lessons Moses, the inspired writer was teaching.

The vast majority of lessons Moses taught are contained in the series of events he recorded. Those lessons are only locked away due to our ignorance and reluctance to review those events and look at them as a whole. When we do, the lessons, as well as procedure become obvious. After all, how can anyone understand any story without first reading every event contained in the book? God's way of teaching can only be summed up as common sense no one can argue with. Jesus proved that point whenever He left His accusers speechless. The same Spirit who inspired Jesus, inspired Moses. The sooner we accept the fact, God knew exactly what He was doing, and told Moses how to teach those lessons, the sooner we can begin to follow those lessons and become the priests God always needed in this world.

This book may fly in the face of tradition. The Bible doesn't describe traditional roles or models for priests most often taught today. But Moses did record a series of events and lessons showing the aspects people need and should practice to become His Kingdom of priests. Most of those are practical lessons. Most are based on common sense. Somehow, God saw what would happen to the priesthood. First the Levitical priesthood leading up to Jesus' ministry, then growing pains the priesthood would endure to our present time. God knew, aspects from man made ideas and theories would constantly mix in with common sense, and His original plan would be blurred.

Today the priesthood is largely based on a few choice pieces of scripture, and about 90-99% tradition. This is why few, if any rule making committee searches for lessons Moses recorded according to God's instructions. Even today we see the epic struggle between man made tradition and instructions from Heaven's throne.

Moses showed how Aaron was to train his sons. And parents not associated with the Levitical priesthood were expected to train their children. Moses covered a vast array of lessons showing the relationship between the priesthood and family. Moses also recorded stories showing how the enemy attacks first the outskirts of the camp, then moves his way in to attack on the family level.

When we look to the New Testament, we see how the priesthood introduced during that first Passover in Egypt was revealed as a priesthood practiced and developed first on the family level, then progresses to the community level. This book wasn't intended to be a guide to the priesthood centered on the family, but close observation, careful study, prayer, and patience revealed lessons every modern priest needs. Not in traditional terms of a priest, pastor, minister, reverend, or any other label the world has cast upon it, but at the family level where it began in Eden, and Jesus restored at the cross.

The organized world of Christianity may not agree with the role of the priest at the family level, but look around and decide. Look at the divorce rate. Look at a list of best selling books. Look at Internet dating sites. Look at the number of sites specializing in Christian singles. Look at the divorce rate in churches. Look at the most popular talk shows on television. Have they helped or hurt the family structure?

Has the concept of a priesthood based on a chosen few equipped with a university education worked? Now consider the fact, the vast majority of those few choice people decided to enter that field of work under the strain of an enormous debt. Would they have accumulated that debt if they knew Moses offered more than they could learn in a life time of university education?  But Moses never thought of charging a dime. Moses offered a free education at God's command.

Has the priesthood been reserved to a few based on some supernatural calling? Do you really believe God's call involves an education based on a man made curriculum, books with few if any references to scripture, incomplete stories from scripture, and fees few people can afford? Do you really believe that was God's plan? Common sense will tell you, God made certain His priests were well cared for. God always gave Aaron and his family much more than they needed. God never mentioned a word about tuition. And guess what, the books God wrote, His instruction manual for His priests were placed in the side of the Ark, where God resided. God wanted to personally watch over His instruction manual for His Kingdom of priests.

Think of what God's plan could have done for the average home anywhere in the world. Think of how many marriages could have been saved. Think of how many more personalized lessons people all over this world would have found in scripture, if someone would have taught them where to look, and how those stories are linked together. Do we continue using traditional methods, or do we look at God's concept to see what He planed for His Kingdom of priests?

Chapter 1 Israel is Counted Numbers 1-3

Numbers 1:44-54 NLTse  These were the men registered by Moses and Aaron and the twelve leaders of Israel, all listed according to their ancestral descent.  (45)  They were registered by families--all the men of Israel who were twenty years old or older and able to go to war.  (46)  The total number was 603,550.  (47)  But this total did not include the Levites.  (48)  For the LORD had said to Moses,  (49)  Do not include the tribe of Levi in the registration; do not count them with the rest of the Israelites.  (50)  Put the Levites in charge of the Tabernacle of the Covenant, along with all its furnishings and equipment. They must carry the Tabernacle and all its furnishings as you travel, and they must take care of it and camp around it.  (51)  Whenever it is time for the Tabernacle to move, the Levites will take it down. And when it is time to stop, they will set it up again. But any unauthorized person who goes too near the Tabernacle must be put to death.  (52)  Each tribe of Israel will camp in a designated area with its own family banner.  (53)  But the Levites will camp around the Tabernacle of the Covenant to protect the community of Israel from the LORD's anger. The Levites are responsible to stand guard around the Tabernacle.  (54)  So the Israelites did everything just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

This is another important aspect of God's priests. Moses had Aaron and twelve elders recorded every man in Israel twenty years and older, able to go to war. This was another direct command from God. We can see, the Levites weren't included in that count. We can speculate why. Or we can look at an example of a battle to see what roles the Levites played.

When Israel finally crossed over into the promised land, the Levites and priests marched in front of the armed soldiers. This was another one of God's plans. If they looked back at the beginning of Numbers and realized the Levites were not counted as warriors, they should have known, God had other plans than a full out assault on a walled city. When God creates a symbol, it serves a number of purposes. Comfort is usually one of them.

We do see something strange, almost contradictory in this story. Levites were not warriors, but they camped around the Tabernacle. Not to protect the Tabernacle, but to protect the people from God's anger. There has to be some sort of buffer zone between people and God. Or between God and people. Levites were an example. But how do we describe the buffer zone in spiritual terms?

God set up another buffer when He was preparing to speak from His mountain. In the first book, we looked into the details God had to teach Moses and the process He had to go through before He overcame His fear. People use that term, fear of the Lord, so loosely when is simply refers to that first meeting with God. Everything are so different, people find it difficult to believe they made contact with God. Of course the first thing that sets in is fear. That's the enemies first line of defense. He doesn't want anyone talking with God. He's done a pretty good job of convincing this world God doesn't want anything to do with individuals.

Before God spoke from His mountain, Israel had to spend days purifying themselves by washing their clothing and bodies. Boundaries were set up, and Moses was one of the few allowed to cross that boundary line. Moses was the only one allowed all the way up that mountain. Why? Because Moses overcame his fear.

That buffer zone was established between God and the rest of the camp as a symbol to show the difference between people who understood Him and people who were still trying to understand God. The Levites weren't supposed to establish a permanent barrier. They were supposed to teach people how to respect, honor, and approach God. Are we seeing that happen today? Not enough.

The Roles of the Levites

Numbers 3:1-11 NLTse  This is the family line of Aaron and Moses as it was recorded when the LORD spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai:  (2)  The names of Aaron's sons were Nadab (the oldest), Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.  (3)  These sons of Aaron were anointed and ordained to minister as priests.  (4)  But Nadab and Abihu died in the LORD's presence in the wilderness of Sinai when they burned before the LORD the wrong kind of fire, different than he had commanded. Since they had no sons, this left only Eleazar and Ithamar to serve as priests with their father, Aaron.  (5)  Then the LORD said to Moses,  (6)  Call forward the tribe of Levi, and present them to Aaron the priest to serve as his assistants.  (7)  They will serve Aaron and the whole community, performing their sacred duties in and around the Tabernacle.  (8)  They will also maintain all the furnishings of the sacred tent, serving in the Tabernacle on behalf of all the Israelites.  (9)  Assign the Levites to Aaron and his sons. They have been given from among all the people of Israel to serve as their assistants.  (10)  Appoint Aaron and his sons to carry out the duties of the priesthood. But any unauthorized person who goes too near the sanctuary must be put to death.  (11)  And the LORD said to Moses,

Seems like kind of a strange way to begin any genealogy. Even stranger is when you consider this refers to Aaron's family and the way the world seems to portray him as high priest. The world tends to glorify Aaron and his role as high priest. Most of the time you only hear about positive things about Aaron, and many of those details are exaggerated. Why?

I'm not sure why people want to change the past. Many preachers like to make a super hero out of Aaron hoping a part of that glory rubs off on them. But that's not what Moses wrote about his brother. Imagine having to record things about your older brother most people would never think about writing. Then putting them in a book taken into the Most Holy place in the world. People have to put these stories into the proper perspective to understand them.

Moses reminded everyone how Aaron lost two of his sons. Why? Obviously Moses meant to place future generations in a position to understand the personal side of his brother the high priest.

Not many people can relate to the loss of a son. Not to mention two sons. Aaron lost both his sons to God's hand. How would you like to live with that on your mind?

Now you can see Aaron on a personal level. An old man weighed down with burdens, worries, and responsibilities. No one can imagine what went through Aaron's mind every time he performed a ceremony, or his sons went inside the Tabernacle to tend to the incense altar.

Aaron also worried about the people he ministered to. Somehow Aaron had to find the right relationship with God so he could lead others into that relationship. Can you imagine how difficult it would have been to tell people about a loving God when He killed two of your sons?

Aaron must have done something right. God put him in charge of all the Levites. Based on the order Moses recorded this, we can see Aaron had to be broken before given a leadership role. We have to keep in mind, we're supposed to pay attention to God's order. And since this book has largely been about training priests, looking for every reference to that training is essential.

The Levites not only served Moses, but the entire community. They will serve Aaron and the whole community, performing their sacred duties in and around the Tabernacle. Moses didn't record a long list of those duties here, but we have seen a long list of lessons Moses recorded about priest's duties from Genesis to this point.

Remember the lessons seen in those plagues. Priests have to know the difference between worship Egyptian style and God's preferred method. They also learned how to minister to people in need when God destroyed all the Egyptian's food supply. They learned to put aside prejudice on a major level. But was that a lasting lesson they learned?

What happened to this world? Remember when people had respect for the elderly and learned from their experiences? It seems those days are long gone. It seems this computer generation thinks they know everything by the age of fourteen. It seems like knowledge is measured by the high score in as many games as you can fit on a cell phone. It seems love, emotions, and their expression is measured by the number of gigabytes of songs you carry in your pocket. Is that the paradise God had in mind?

Think about Aaron. He was the first high priest. Why did God choose him? Was it just because he was Moses' brother? Look at Aaron's qualifications. He was a slave just like all those other people. He couldn't have been a priest in Egypt. But people made him a priest after leaving Egypt. Aaron based his priesthood and religion on what he learned in Egypt. If nothing else, Aaron learned the art of control by giving people what they wanted and telling them what they wanted to hear. But that wasn't God's plan.

Most people think Aaron was in his late eighties or early nineties when God made him the high priest. It was almost as if God chose someone who would be a major project for a reason. God wanted to use Aaron to teach some fundamental lessons about how He works with people.

Think of what Moses recorded and how he recorded it. Moses had a direct relationship with God. They talked together, ate together, and discussed matters of concern. Moses didn't record details about his brother sharing in that relationship.

You would think training Aaron and his sons for the priesthood would have been an easy job considering Aaron had a brother, and his sons had an uncle who we know talked with God. But Moses didn't record anything other than those laws and instructions he recorded and handed down to Aaron, his sons, and everyone in the camp. It seems they all received equal treatment from Moses. God's prophet told them exactly what God had to teach.

Where is the evidence Moses spent extra time and put extra effort into training Aaron and his sons? We don't see any evidence in the books Moses wrote. Moses gave Aaron and his sons enough information to make a decision on their own.

We also see God established special sacrifices for Aaron and his sons. And God dwelt out sever punishment to Aaron's sons when they didn't follow instructions. We also see how God brought Aaron along in his training on a slow pace.

God used a lot of repetition to teach Aaron. Was that because Aaron was an old man set in his ways? No! It was because Aaron not only needed to learn, he needed to learn at a level that would have allowed him to teach other people. His sons were included in that group.

The first sacrifice at the Tabernacle was a bull. Aaron and his sons had to place their hands on that bull and confess their sins. The bull represented the the death of the Egyptian form of religion. Bulls were sacred in Egypt and no one would think of sacrificing a bull. That bull also served as a reminder so Aaron wouldn't forget to confess that sin he committed when making an idol and forming his own religion. Did it work? We can't be sure. But later God had Aaron sacrifice a calf. Hint, hint. Aaron must have forgotten to confess something the first time.

All of this shows how God can be patient. If we don't get the message the first time, God will try another way to get the message across. What does that teach us when the high priest didn't get the message the first time?

Talk about repetition. As soon as the Tabernacle opened, Aaron was faced with a long line of people bringing sacrifices. After finishing one, Aaron turned around to view a long line of people days after day. Aaron had to repeat the same ritual in the exact manner Moses taught him time after time.

But why is it today, people want to change everything Moses recorded? God had Moses record a specific plan. God not only established, but followed a specific pattern. God knew how to teach Aaron lessons way beyond the basic laws and regulations He gave Moses to pass along. There were certain lessons God had to teach Aaron Himself. Aaron had to listen to God to learn those lessons. But today what do we see?

If you have a problem, you go to the priest. Have a question, go to the priest. Have trouble understanding scriptures, run to a priest. Everything Christians do evolves around a man in one form or another. How do they know they're dealing with a priest in the golden calf process of his education, or some version along the process they have to go through to mature? Just because Aaron was old didn't ensure he was spiritually mature.

If preachers are on a journey in life and they are led by God on that path, shouldn't they be able to explain how God teaches them lessons? Look at the books Moses wrote. When God was with Him, Moses recorded a great deal of specific details telling exactly how God communicated with him, and what God taught him. Your not paying attention to those books Moses wrote if you can't see how Moses spiritually matured and how his trust in God increased with every lesson learned. That was Moses' role as a prophet. To record the step by step process God used to teach him. So if modern day preachers have answers, their first question should always be, have you talked to God about it? And if people don't know how to communicate with God, a real man of God will be able to explain that process and teach it based on experience.

Levites Chosen

Numbers 3:11-13 NLTse  And the LORD said to Moses,  (12)  Look, I have chosen the Levites from among the Israelites to serve as substitutes for all the firstborn sons of the people of Israel. The Levites belong to me,  (13)  for all the firstborn males are mine. On the day I struck down all the firstborn sons of the Egyptians, I set apart for myself all the firstborn in Israel, both of people and of animals. They are mine; I am the LORD.

Here we see another shift in policy from God. Now God is choosing Levites to serve as substitutes for all the firstborn sons in Israel. Why the shift?

At first God chose all the Israelites as His firstborn sons. And the LORD told Moses, "When you arrive back in Egypt, go to Pharaoh and perform all the miracles I have empowered you to do. But I will harden his heart so he will refuse to let the people go. Then you will tell him, 'This is what the LORD says: Israel is my firstborn son. (Exodus 4:21-22 NLTse). Since the Israelites turned down God's offer to be a kingdom of priests, God introduced His plan B.

During the first Passover, God destroyed all the first born sons not protected by the blood of the Passover lamb. And that night at midnight, the LORD struck down all the firstborn sons in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn son of Pharaoh, who sat on his throne, to the firstborn son of the prisoner in the dungeon. Even the firstborn of their livestock were killed. Pharaoh and all his officials and all the people of Egypt woke up during the night, and loud wailing was heard throughout the land of Egypt. There was not a single house where someone had not died. (Exodus 12:29-30 NLTse). There is a deep spiritual connection between those who were lost and the Passover. We see that spiritual connection revealed at the cross.

Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end. (John 13:1 NLTse). Jesus died on the Passover. He became that sacrificial Lamb. It was not His blood that covered the doorposts, not of the home, but the doorway to Heaven. Did the priests who killed Jesus accept the protection that blood offered? Or were they like those Egyptians who were warned but didn't believe. Nor did they act.

The firstborn son lost at that last Passover was the priesthood and Levites who served as priests. Jesus put an end to their teachings and doctrines. You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following the rules of the world, such as, Don't handle! Don't taste! Don't touch!? Such rules are mere human teachings about things that deteriorate as we use them. These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person's evil desires. (Colossians 2:20-23 NLTse).

Counting the Levites

Numbers 3:38-47 NLTse  The area in front of the Tabernacle, in the east toward the sunrise, was reserved for the tents of Moses and of Aaron and his sons, who had the final responsibility for the sanctuary on behalf of the people of Israel. Anyone other than a priest or Levite who went too near the sanctuary was to be put to death.  (39)  When Moses and Aaron counted the Levite clans at the LORD's command, the total number was 22,000 males one month old or older.  (40)  Then the LORD said to Moses, Now count all the firstborn sons in Israel who are one month old or older, and make a list of their names.  (41)  The Levites must be reserved for me as substitutes for the firstborn sons of Israel; I am the LORD. And the Levites' livestock must be reserved for me as substitutes for the firstborn livestock of the whole nation of Israel.  (42)  So Moses counted the firstborn sons of the people of Israel, just as the LORD had commanded.  (43)  The number of firstborn sons who were one month old or older was 22,273.  (44)  Then the LORD said to Moses,  (45)  "Take the Levites as substitutes for the firstborn sons of the people of Israel. And take the livestock of the Levites as substitutes for the firstborn livestock of the people of Israel. The Levites belong to me; I am the LORD.  (46)  There are 273 more firstborn sons of Israel than there are Levites. To redeem these extra firstborn sons,  (47)  collect five pieces of silver for each of them (each piece weighing the same as the sanctuary shekel, which equals twenty gerahs).

The substitute of the firstborn son was so important. Moses repeated it so we wouldn't miss it. Numbers chapter 3 described how God assigned jobs to all the families in the Levitical tribe. This is an illustration of organization on the surface. It also shows how easy the work of ministry can be. Moses and Aaron counted 22,000 Levites. Moving a text with 22,000 people would be an easy task. Anyone who has ever moved can tell you, if they had 100 people show up to move,  the job would be completed in hours and no one would be strained or exhausted. Think of those 22,000 Levites on a spiritual level. There were many to share the tasks involved.

We also see a lot mentioned about Aaron's sons, but nothing about Moses' sons. I wonder why. That would be another question you can approach God's throne to ask about. What ever happened with Moses' wife and sons?

After counting 22.000 Levites, God told Moses to go back and count the firstborn sons. Common sense would have told us, it would have been easier and saved a great deal of time if Moses and Aaron counted the Levites and the firstborn sons at the same time. Did God forget to mention that the first time? Of course God didn't forget. Remember the law of context that tells us, when we see something unusual, keep your eyes open for a spiritual lesson. What did Moses and Aaron have to do to get that second count? They had to revisit tents of all the families again. What does that teach us?

Since Aaron and Moses were Levites, it teaches us, ministry begins in the home and family. Then when Moses and Aaron went back to inquire about the children, it taught us, you can never begin teaching lessons too early.

I can witness to that fact. Since the day my younger daughter came home from the hospital she was born, she laid in her crib listening to religious children's stories we read to her older daughter. I can't describe how much she retained from those stories. But my little one has a much better grasp of the Gospels and Jesus' ministry than most adults I know.

As we've learned throughout this series of books, we have to look out for the unusual and repeated details and instructions. Many people miss little details God added in, and often miss the spiritual lessons associated with those details. When we allow God's Word to explain itself, we see details missed by the majority of the world.

There is something about following the sequence Bible writers followed. That may be one of the most important laws of context. Read the entire story, and pay attention to the particular sequence God used. They were recorded that way for a reason. Here we see a change in one of God's laws. Can God change His laws? Was sacrificing a lamb and covering doorposts with its blood a law or a choice. Following laws is always a choice. But in the plan of salvation, we see the Passover lamb was a symbol pointing to Jesus' sacrifice. How would we know it was a symbol and what it pointed to if we didn't read the whole story? People listen and teach the story of Jesus' sacrifice all the time. But do they miss a lot of the details by jumping around to one choice text to another?

God even told Aaron and Moses where to pitch their tents. Then God gave a warning. Anyone other than a priest or Levite who went too near the sanctuary was to be put to death. That is a very severe warning. Why wouldn't God want anyone but authorized people to approach the Tabernacle?

When we consider the fact, those people refused to serve God, and they were prone to creating their own brand of religion, we can begin to understand why. We also have seen how God was slowly teaching Aaron. What level were most of the other Israelites at? If we were to jump ahead to stories in Kings and Chronicle, we could see how pagan items and rituals were added to the temple Solomon build. Every once in a while Jerusalem had a king who initiated reforms, but they were never effective for long. At this stage in Moses' story, Israel was at an infant stage. But that didn't mean people weren't thinking and planning ways to make the Tabernacle and its services more effective, in their opinion.

What was God's original plan for worship? What would it have been like if all the Israelites accepted His plan? Moses didn't record many of those details. We know God would have continued to talk to every Israelite. They would have seen a more direct route to the promised land. We can't be sure what the sacrificial system would have looked like if everyone in Israel accepted God's offer and laws. It may have been drastically reduced. What would have happened if Aaron didn't make that idol and create his own religion? Would they still have to sacrifice a bull to open the Tabernacle?

History would have been much different if Israelites would have followed God's plan. In this life we can't be certain how different it would have been, or what would have been changed. That could be a subject of prayer. Maybe God will show you a few details. But what about changes in your life? That's another subject of prayer. That of course is a personal issue. When you pray about things in your life you could have done differently, you can see why Aaron needed that direct connection and instructions from God. And why you need that connection for your future.

Chapter 2 Packing the Tabernacle to Move Numbers 4

Numbers 4:1-15 NLTse  Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron,  (2)  Record the names of the members of the clans and families of the Kohathite division of the tribe of Levi.  (3)  List all the men between the ages of thirty and fifty who are eligible to serve in the Tabernacle.  (4)  The duties of the Kohathites at the Tabernacle will relate to the most sacred objects.  (5)  When the camp moves, Aaron and his sons must enter the Tabernacle first to take down the inner curtain and cover the Ark of the Covenant with it.  (6)  Then they must cover the inner curtain with fine goatskin leather and spread over that a single piece of blue cloth. Finally, they must put the carrying poles of the Ark in place.  (7)  Next they must spread a blue cloth over the table where the Bread of the Presence is displayed, and on the cloth they will place the bowls, pans, jars, pitchers, and the special bread.  (8)  They must spread a scarlet cloth over all of this, and finally a covering of fine goatskin leather on top of the scarlet cloth. Then they must insert the carrying poles into the table.  (9)  Next they must cover the lampstand with a blue cloth, along with its lamps, lamp snuffers, trays, and special jars of olive oil.  (10)  Then they must cover the lampstand and its accessories with fine goatskin leather and place the bundle on a carrying frame.  (11)  Next they must spread a blue cloth over the gold incense altar and cover this cloth with fine goatskin leather. Then they must attach the carrying poles to the altar.  (12)  They must take all the remaining furnishings of the sanctuary and wrap them in a blue cloth, cover them with fine goatskin leather, and place them on the carrying frame.  (13)  They must remove the ashes from the altar for sacrifices and cover the altar with a purple cloth.  (14)  All the altar utensils--the firepans, meat forks, shovels, basins, and all the containers--must be placed on the cloth, and a covering of fine goatskin leather must be spread over them. Finally, they must put the carrying poles in place.  (15)  The camp will be ready to move when Aaron and his sons have finished covering the sanctuary and all the sacred articles. The Kohathites will come and carry these things to the next destination. But they must not touch the sacred objects, or they will die. So these are the things from the Tabernacle that the Kohathites must carry.

We can see how Numbers chapter 4 builds on chapter 3. This time the Kohathites are added, showing their duties are close to Aaron's in one respect. We're not told much about Kohath at this point, other than he was one of Levi's sons. Someone, somewhere along the way must have done something to catch God's attention.

Aaron and his sons were responsible for packing and covering all the items in the Tabernacle. Once the items were covered, the  Kohathites carried the sacred articles to the next site.

If David paid attention to this chapter Moses recorded, Uzzah would have been spared that day.

Then David again gathered all the elite troops in Israel, 30,000 in all. He led them to Baalah of Judah to bring back the Ark of God, which bears the name of the LORD of Heaven's Armies, who is enthroned between the cherubim. They placed the Ark of God on a new cart and brought it from Abinadab's house, which was on a hill. Uzzah and Ahio, Abinadab's sons, were guiding the cart as it left the house, carrying the Ark of God. Ahio walked in front of the Ark. David and all the people of Israel were celebrating before the LORD, singing songs and playing all kinds of musical instruments--lyres, harps, tambourines, castanets, and cymbals. But when they arrived at the threshing floor of Nacon, the oxen stumbled, and Uzzah reached out his hand and steadied the Ark of God. Then the LORD's anger was aroused against Uzzah, and God struck him dead because of this. So Uzzah died right there beside the Ark of God. David was angry because the LORD's anger had burst out against Uzzah. He named that place Perez-uzzah (which means to burst out against Uzzah), as it is still called today. David was now afraid of the LORD, and he asked, How can I ever bring the Ark of the LORD back into my care? (2 Samuel 6:1-9 NLTse).

We can see, David was not following orders. He came up with his own plan to move the ark. David's mistake began when he decided to move the Ark. If David would have read the books Moses wrote, he would have known, the Ark only moved when God