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Numbers 4:30

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Numbers 4:30 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “from thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old shalt thou number them, every one that entereth upon the service, to do the work of the tent of meeting.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

from thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old shalt thou number them, every one that entereth upon the service, to do the work of the tent of meeting.
Numbers 4:30 — American Standard Version

Context — Numbers 4

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
27At the commandment of Aaron and his sons shall be all the service of the sons of the Gershonites, in all their burden, and in all their service; and ye shall appoint unto them in charge all their burden.
28This is the service of the families of the sons of the Gershonites in the tent of meeting: and their charge shall be under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.
29As for the sons of Merari, thou shalt number them by their families, by their fathers` houses;
30from thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old shalt thou number them, every one that entereth upon the service, to do the work of the tent of meeting.
31And this is the charge of their burden, according to all their service in the tent of meeting: the boards of the tabernacle, and the bars thereof, and the pillars thereof, and the sockets thereof,
32and the pillars of the court round about, and their sockets, and their pins, and their cords, with all their instruments, and with all their service: and by name ye shall appoint the instruments of the charge of their burden.
33This is the service of the families of the sons of Merari, according to all their service, in the tent of meeting, under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.
← Numbers 4:29Numbers 4:31 →
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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
“From thirty years old and upward, etc.] The Septuagint version here, and in (<040403>Numbers 4:3,23), renders it, from twenty five years old and upward, agreeable to (<040824>Numbers 8:24), at the which age the Levites went into the tabernacle, to wait and to learn their business, but they did not enter upon it till thirty; even unto fifty years old shalt thou number them; at which age they were discharged from business: everyone that entereth into the service, to do the work of the tabernacle of the congregation; (see Gill on “<040403>Numbers 4:3”).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“The Gershonites and Merarites are superintended by Ithamar, Aaron’s younger son, who had already had the oversight of the tabernacle in its construction Exodus 38:21. Thus, readily do the permanent offices of the leaders of the Israelite community spring out of the duties which, under the emergencies of the first year of the Exodus, they had been led, from time to time, to undertake. Numbers 4:32 By name ye shall reckon the instruments - Or, assign them to their bearers singly, and “by name.” These “instruments” comprised the heavier parts of the tabernacle; and the order seems intended to prevent individual Merarites choosing their own burden, and so throwing more than the proper share on…”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“service: Heb. warfare, Num 4:3, Num 4:23; Psa 110:1-7; Ti1 6:11, Ti1 6:12; Ti2 2:4, Ti2 4:7, Ti2 4:8 Numbers 4:31”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification