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Numbers 4:16

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Numbers 4:16 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And the charge of Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest shall be the oil for the light, and the sweet incense, and the continual meal-offering, and the anointing oil, the charge of all the tabernacle, and of all that therein is, the sanctuary, and the furniture thereof.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And the charge of Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest shall be the oil for the light, and the sweet incense, and the continual meal-offering, and the anointing oil, the charge of all the tabernacle, and of all that therein is, the sanctuary, and the furniture thereof.
Numbers 4:16 — American Standard Version

Context — Numbers 4

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
13And they shall take away the ashes from the altar, and spread a purple cloth thereon:
14and they shall put upon it all the vessels thereof, wherewith they minister about it, the firepans, the flesh-hooks, and the shovels, and the basins, all the vessels of the altar; and they shall spread upon it a covering of sealskin, and put in the staves thereof.
15And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the furniture of the sanctuary, as the camp is set forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear it: but they shall not touch the sanctuary, lest they die. These things are the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tent of meeting.
16And the charge of Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest shall be the oil for the light, and the sweet incense, and the continual meal-offering, and the anointing oil, the charge of all the tabernacle, and of all that therein is, the sanctuary, and the furniture thereof.
17And Jehovah spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,
18Cut ye not off the tribe of the families of the Kohathites from among the Levites;
19but thus do unto them, that they may live, and not die, when they approach unto the most holy things: Aaron and his sons shall go in, and appoint them every one to his service and to his burden;
← Numbers 4:15Numbers 4:17 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And to the office of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, [pertaineth] the oil for the light, etc.] The following things, to bear them, according to some Jewish writers; but rather it was to give the oil for the light, that is, the vessels, and so the vessels of the oil to the sons of the Kohathites; agreeably to which are the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan, who paraphrase the words, “and that which was delivered to Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, the oil for the light, etc.” And indeed the words, as they are in the Hebrew text, may be rendered, “and the oversight of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, shall be, or “let it be”, the oil for the light, etc. f24;” the same word being…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“to the office of Eleazar . . . pertaineth the oil for the light, and the sweet incense, &c.--He was charged with the special duty of superintending the squadron who were employed in the carrying of the sacred furniture; besides, to his personal care were committed the materials requisite for the daily service, and which it was necessary he should have easily at his command (Exo 29:38).”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Eleazar - He himself is to carry these things, and not to commit them to the sons of Kohath. The oversight - The care that all the things above mentioned be carried by the persons and in the manner expressed. Numbers 4:18”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“the office: Eleazar himself, perhaps with the other priests, was required to carry the oil for the light, the incense, and the flour for the daily meat offering, and the holy ointment; besides superintending the Levites. It may be supposed, that he himself carried no more of the oil than for present use (see note on Num 4:9). Num 3:32 the oil: Exo 25:6, Exo 27:20, Exo 27:21; Lev 24:2 the sweet: Exo 30:34-38, Exo 37:29 the daily: Exo 29:39-41 the anointing: Exo 30:23-33 the oversight: Luk 4:18; Act 20:28; Co1 4:1; Ti1 2:5; Heb 3:1, Heb 3:6; Pe1 2:25, Pe1 5:2 Numbers 4:18”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“The oversight of the oil for the candlestick ( Exo 27:20), the incense ( Exo 30:34), the continual meat-offering ( Exo 29:40), and the anointing oil ( Exo 30:23), belonged to Eleazar as the head of all the Levites ( Num 3:32). He had also the oversight of the dwelling and all the holy things and furniture belonging to it; and, as a comparison of Num 4:28 and Num 4:33 clearly shows, of the services of the Kohathites also. Numbers 4:17”
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Related study paths

Read Numbers 4 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification