Numbers 3:26-28 New English Translation
26 the hangings of the courtyard,[a] the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard that surrounded the tabernacle and the altar, and their ropes, plus all the service connected with these things.[b]
The Numbering of the Kohathites
27 From Kohath came the family of the Amramites, the family of the Izharites, the family of the Hebronites, and the family of the Uzzielites; these were the families of the Kohathites.[c] 28 Counting every male from a month old and upward, there were 8,600. They were responsible for the care[d] of the sanctuary.
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- Numbers 3:26 tc The phrases in this verse seem to be direct objects without verbs. BHS suggests deleting the sign of the accusative (for which see P. P. Saydon, “Meanings and Uses of the Particle אֵת,” VT 14 [1964]: 263-75).
- Numbers 3:26 tn Heb “for all the service of it [them].”
- Numbers 3:27 sn Both Moses and Aaron came from this line (6:16-20). During the Hebrew monarchy this branch of the line of Levi was exemplary in music (1 Chr 6:33-48). They were also helpful to Hezekiah in his reforms (1 Chr 29:12-14).
- Numbers 3:28 tn The construction here is a little different. The Hebrew text uses the participle in construct plural: שֹׁמְרֵי (shomere, literally “keepers of”). The form specifies the duties of the 8,600 Kohathites. The genitive that follows this participle is the cognate מִשְׁמֶרֶת (mishmeret) that has been used before. So the expression indicates that they were responsible for the care of this part of the cult center. There is no reason to delete one of the forms (as does J. A. Paterson, Numbers, 42), for the repetition stresses the central importance of their work.
New English Translation (NET)
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