Numbers 4: the Kohathites

Numbers 4: 19a But thus do unto [the Kohathites], that they may live, and not die,

       Who were the Kohathites? Why were they warned that they could die if they approached the most holy things?

       Kohath was a direct descendant of Levi and the grandfather of Aaron.

       Ge 46:11 And the sons of Levi; Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

       Ex 6:18 And the sons of Kohath; Amram, and Izhar, and Hebron, and Uzziel: and the years of the life of Kohath were an hundred thirty and three years.

       The Kohathites were Levites and relatives of Aaron but not descendants of Aaron. Because they were descendants of Levi they were included in the service of the tabernacle.  Numbers 4 directs them to do service, but they can’t touch or look upon the holy tabernacle items. The sons of Aaron had to cover everything first.

       Upon a second (or third) reading of Numbers 4, verse 18 jumps out:

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

       The word for “cut off” [trk karath] means anything from breaking a covenant to cutting off a body part to failing. Most likely it is in the sense of breaking a covenant. (It seems to be a word like our English “set.” It has lots of definitions and the meaning is derived from context.)

       Could it be that God was anticipating future disagreements or entitlement disputes? God made provision for all of Levi’s descendants, not just the priests. The priests did have a slightly different “salary,” so to speak, but the other Levites were not to be excluded.

       We see similar guidelines for the descendants of Levi’s sons Gershon and Merari. They are Levites and entitled to the benefits of the family line, but they are not part of the priestly line.

       Of note, one Levites census was for Levites 30-50 years old. It seems the age limit was 30-50 years old for priestly and ancillary service for the work of the tabernacle, but then in Numbers 8, it says 25-50 years old. If I discover anything conclusive, I'll let you know. Maybe the 5 years are kind of a training period?

Have a day full of good "Numbers!"