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The Duties of the Kohathites
…17Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron,18“Do notallow the Kohathitetribalclansto be cut offfrom amongthe Levites.19In order 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 in and assign each man his task and what he is to carry.…

Treasury of Scripture

Cut you not off the tribe of the families of the Kohathites from among the Levites:

Numbers 16:32
And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men thatappertained unto Korah, and alltheir goods.

Numbers 17:10
And the LORD said unto Moses, Bring Aaron's rod again before the testimony, to be kept for a token against the rebels; and thou shalt quite take away their murmurings from me, that they die not.

Numbers 18:5
And ye shall keep the charge of the sanctuary, and the charge of the altar: that there be no wrath any more upon the children of Israel.

ClansCutDestroyedFamiliesFamilyKohathiteKohathitesKo'hathitesLevitesMidstTribalTribeClansCutDestroyedFamiliesFamilyKohathiteKohathitesKo'hathitesLevitesMidstTribalTribe1.The age at which the Levites were to serve, and the duration of the service
4.The duty of the Kohathites
16.The charge of Eleazar
17.The office of the priests
21.The duty of the Gershonites
29.Of the Merarites
34.The number of the Kohathites
38.Of the Gershonites
42.And of the Merarites

Do not allow the Kohathite tribal clans
The Kohathites were one of the three main divisions of the Levites, descended from Kohath, the second son of Levi. Their primary responsibility was the care of the most sacred objects of the tabernacle, including the Ark of the Covenant, the table of showbread, the lampstand, the altars, and the sacred utensils. This role highlights the importance of their service and the need for their preservation. The Kohathites' duties required them to carry these holy items on their shoulders, emphasizing the sacredness and reverence required in their service. This phrase underscores the necessity of maintaining the Kohathite lineage to ensure the continuation of their critical role in worship and service to God.

to be cut off
The phrase "to be cut off" often implies a severe consequence, such as death or exclusion from the community. In the context of the Kohathites, it suggests the potential for their extinction or removal from their sacred duties, which would have dire implications for the religious practices of Israel. This warning reflects the gravity of their responsibilities and the need for careful adherence to God's commands to avoid such a fate. The concept of being "cut off" is a recurring theme in the Old Testament, often associated with disobedience or failure to uphold covenantal obligations.

from among the Levites.
The Levites were set apart for service to God, distinct from the other tribes of Israel. They were not given a territorial inheritance like the other tribes but were instead dedicated to the service of the tabernacle and later the temple. The Kohathites, as a subgroup of the Levites, had a unique and vital role within this priestly tribe. Ensuring that the Kohathites were not "cut off" from among the Levites was crucial for maintaining the integrity and function of the Levitical priesthood. This phrase highlights the interconnectedness of the Levitical families and the importance of each group's contribution to the worship and spiritual life of Israel.

1.Kohathites
A clan within the tribe of Levi, responsible for the care of the most sacred objects of the tabernacle, including the Ark of the Covenant. Their duties were critical, and they were not to touch or see the holy objects directly, lest they die.

2.Levites
The tribe set apart for religious duties and service to the tabernacle. They were not given a territorial inheritance like the other tribes but were instead dedicated to serving God and the Israelite community.

3.Moses
The leader of the Israelites who received the law from God and communicated His commands to the people, including the instructions regarding the duties of the Levites.

4.Aaron
The brother of Moses and the first high priest, responsible for overseeing the priestly duties and ensuring the proper handling of the sacred objects.

5.Tabernacle
The portable dwelling place for the presence of God among the Israelites, containing the Ark of the Covenant and other sacred items. It was central to Israelite worship and religious life.The Importance of Obedience
The Kohathites were given specific instructions to prevent them from being "cut off." This underscores the importance of obedience to God's commands, especially in matters of worship and service.

The Role of the Community
The command to protect the Kohathites from being cut off highlights the communal responsibility of the Israelites to care for each other and ensure the continuity of their service to God.

Reverence for the Holy
The Kohathites' duties remind us of the need for reverence and respect for what is sacred. In our lives, we should approach God with the same awe and respect.

God's Provision and Order
The detailed instructions for the Levites demonstrate God's provision and order in worship. This order reflects His character and should inspire us to seek order and purpose in our spiritual lives.Top 10 Lessons from Numbers 4

Why did Korah rebel against Moses and Aaron?

Who were the Kohathites, Gershonites, and Merarites?

Numbers 4:29-30 - Why does God prescribe a seemingly arbitrary age range for the Merarites' duties, and does this contradict other biblical texts about priestly service?

Does the inheritance prohibition in Numbers 18:20-24 conflict with other passages that suggest Levites owned cities or land, indicating a possible textual inconsistency?(18)Cut ye not off the tribe . . . --The wordshebet(tribe) is here used in a very peculiar sense, and denotes one division only of the tribe of Levi. In this and the following verses the injunction already given (Numbers 5:15) is renewed, and Moses and Aaron are charged not to be guilty of such negligence in respect of it as might expose the Kohathites to death in consequence of their unlawful treatment of the holy things. Moses and Aaron might be said to do that which would be the result of their negligence. In like manner St. Paul enjoins the Roman Christians in these words: "Destroy not him with thy meat for whom Christ died" (Romans 14:15).

Verse 18. -Cut ye not off the tribe of the families of the Kohathites. The word tribe (shebet) is used in an unusual way here, not in the sense oftribus, but ofstirps. Perhaps as Levi was himself a microcosm of all Israel, so his families ranked as tribes; and no doubt they remained more distinct than the families of any other tribe. The meaning of the command is plainly this, "Take care that the Kohathites are not cut off through any negligence or want of consideration on your part; and the form of the command, "cut ye not off," conveyed most emphatically the warning, that if any mischief befell the Kohathites which the priests could have prevented, they would be responsible for it in the sight of God. No doubt, as a fact, the Kohathites would take their cue from the conduct of the priests: ifthey were irreverent and careless, the Levites would be the same, and would sooner or later presume, and, presuming, would die.

Parallel Commentaries ...


“Do not
אַל־(’al-)
Adverb
Strong's 408:Not

allow the Kohathite
הַקְּהָתִ֑י(haq·qə·hā·ṯî)
Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 6956:Kohathites -- descendant of Kohath

tribal
שֵׁ֖בֶט(šê·ḇeṭ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 7626:Rod, staff, club, scepter, tribe

clans
מִשְׁפְּחֹ֣ת(miš·pə·ḥōṯ)
Noun - feminine plural construct
Strong's 4940:A family, circle of relatives, a class, a species, sort, a tribe, people

to be cut off
תַּכְרִ֕יתוּ(taḵ·rî·ṯū)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 3772:To cut, to destroy, consume, to covenant

from among
מִתּ֖וֹךְ(mit·tō·wḵ)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 8432:A bisection, the centre

the Levites.
הַלְוִיִּֽם׃(hal·wî·yim)
Article | Noun - proper - masculine plural
Strong's 3881:Levites -- descendant of Levi


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OT Law: Numbers 4:18 Don't cut off the tribe (Nu Num.)