Numbers 4:7

“And upon the table of shewbread they shall spread a cloth of blue, etc.] That that also might not be seen nor touched by the Levites: and put thereon the dishes, and the spoons, and the bowls, and the covers to cover withal: all which belonged to the shewbread table; the use of which, (see Gill on “<022529>Exodus 25:29”); these seem to be put not immediately upon the table, but upon the blue cloth spread over the table: and the continual bread shall be thereon: the shewbread is called “continual”, because it was always on the table; for while the one was removing by a set of priests, which had stood a week, new loaves were placed by another set of priests: this bread seems at this time to be…”

“continual showbread--Though the people were in the wilderness fed upon manna, the sacred loaves were constantly made of corn, which was probably raised in small quantities from the verdant patches of the desert.”

“The dishes - Upon which the shew - bread was put. Continual bread - So called because it was continually to be there, even in the wilderness; where though they had only manna for themselves, yet they reserved corn for the weekly making of these loaves, which they might with no great difficulty procure from some of the people bordering upon the wilderness. Numbers 4:11”

“the table: Exo 25:23-30, Exo 37:10-16; Lev 24:5-8 cover withal: or, pour out withal the continual: The Israelites, without doubt, were able to procure corn enough from the adjacent countries, even when in the wilderness, to make the shewbread, and to present the daily meat offerings. Numbers 4:8”

“Over the table of shew-bread ( Exo 25:23) they were to spread a hyacinth cloth, to place the plates, bowls, wine-pitchers, and drink-offering bowls ( Exo 25:29) upon the top of this, and to lay shew-bread thereon; and then to spread a crimson cloth over these vessels and the shew-bread, and cover this with a sea-cow skin, and lastly to put the bearing poles in their places. Numbers 4:9”