Numbers 4:5
New International Version
When the camp is to move, Aaron and his sons are to go in and take down the shielding curtain and put it over the ark of the covenant law.

New Living Translation
When the camp moves, Aaron and his sons must enter the Tabernacle first to take down the inner curtain and cover the Ark of the Covenant with it.

English Standard Version
When the camp is to set out, Aaron and his sons shall go in and take down the veil of the screen and cover the ark of the testimony with it.

Berean Standard Bible
Whenever the camp sets out, Aaron and his sons are to go in, take down the veil of the curtain, and cover the ark of the Testimony with it.

King James Bible
And when the camp setteth forward, Aaron shall come, and his sons, and they shall take down the covering vail, and cover the ark of testimony with it:

New King James Version
When the camp prepares to journey, Aaron and his sons shall come, and they shall take down the covering veil and cover the ark of the Testimony with it.

New American Standard Bible
“When the camp sets out, Aaron and his sons shall go in and take down the veil of the curtain, and cover the ark of the testimony with it;

NASB 1995
“When the camp sets out, Aaron and his sons shall go in and they shall take down the veil of the screen and cover the ark of the testimony with it;

NASB 1977
“When the camp sets out, Aaron and his sons shall go in and they shall take down the veil of the screen and cover the ark of the testimony with it;

Legacy Standard Bible
“And when the camp sets out, Aaron and his sons shall go in and they shall take down the veil of the screen and cover the ark of the testimony with it;

Amplified Bible
“When the camp prepares to move out, Aaron and his sons shall come into the sanctuary and take down the veil (curtain) screening off the Holy of Holies, and cover the ark of the testimony with it;

Christian Standard Bible
Whenever the camp is about to move on, Aaron and his sons are to go in, take down the screening curtain, and cover the ark of the testimony with it.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Whenever the camp is about to move on, Aaron and his sons are to go in, take down the screening veil, and cover the ark of the testimony with it.

American Standard Version
when the camp setteth forward, Aaron shall go in, and his sons, and they shall take down the veil of the screen, and cover the ark of the testimony with it,

Contemporary English Version
When the Israelites are ready to move their camp, Aaron and his sons will enter the tent and take down the curtain that separates the sacred chest from the rest of the tent. They will cover the chest with this curtain,

English Revised Version
when the camp setteth forward, Aaron shall go in, and his sons, and they shall take down the veil of the screen, and cover the ark of the testimony with it:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
When the camp is supposed to move, Aaron and his sons will go in and take down the canopy that hangs over the ark containing the words of God's promise. First they will cover the ark with the canopy.

Good News Translation
The LORD gave Moses the following instructions. When it is time to break camp, Aaron and his sons shall enter the Tent, take down the curtain in front of the Covenant Box, and cover the Box with it.

International Standard Version
When the camp is about to travel, Aaron and his sons are to come and take down the veil of the curtain and cover the Ark of the Testimony with it.

Majority Standard Bible
Whenever the camp sets out, Aaron and his sons are to go in, take down the veil of the curtain, and cover the ark of the Testimony with it.

NET Bible
When it is time for the camp to journey, Aaron and his sons must come and take down the screening curtain and cover the ark of the testimony with it.

New Heart English Bible
When the camp moves forward, Aaron shall go in, and his sons, and they shall take down the veil of the screen, and cover the ark of the Testimony with it,

Webster's Bible Translation
And when the camp moveth forward, Aaron shall come, and his sons, and they shall take down the covering vail, and cover the ark of testimony with it:

World English Bible
When the camp moves forward, Aaron shall go in with his sons; and they shall take down the veil of the screen, cover the ark of the Testimony with it,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
when Aaron and his sons have come in, in the journeying of the camp, and have taken down the veil of the hanging, and have covered the Ark of the Testimony with it,

Young's Literal Translation
that Aaron and his sons have come in, in the journeying of the camp, and have taken down the vail of the hanging, and have covered with it the ark of the testimony;

Smith's Literal Translation
And Aaron came, and his sons, in the removing of the camp, and they took down the vail of the covering, and they covered with it the ark of the testimony.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
When the camp is to set forward, Aaron and his sons shall go into the tabernacle of the covenant, and the holy of holies, and shall take down the veil that hangeth before the door, and shall wrap up the ark of the testimony in it,

Catholic Public Domain Version
Aaron and his sons shall enter, when the camp is going to move, and they shall take down the veil, which hangs before the entrance, and they shall wrap the ark of the testimony in it,

New American Bible
In breaking camp, Aaron and his sons shall go in and take down the screening curtain and cover the ark of the covenant with it.

New Revised Standard Version
When the camp is to set out, Aaron and his sons shall go in and take down the screening curtain, and cover the ark of the covenant with it;
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And when the camp marches forward, Aaron and his sons shall come in, and they shall take down the covering veil and cover the ark of testimony with it,

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Ahron will enter and his sons whenever the camp pick up and they shall take down the veil of the door of the curtain and they shall cover the Ark of the Testimony with it.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
when the camp setteth forward, Aaron shall go in, and his sons, and they shall take down the veil of the screen, and cover the ark of the testimony with it;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Aaron and his sons shall go in, when the camp is about to move, and shall take down the shadowing veil, and shall cover with it the ark of the testimony.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Duties of the Kohathites
4This service of the Kohathites at the Tent of Meeting regards the most holy things. 5Whenever the camp sets out, Aaron and his sons are to go in, take down the veil of the curtain, and cover the ark of the Testimony with it. 6They are to place over this a covering of fine leather, spread a solid blue cloth over it, and insert its poles.…

Cross References
Exodus 25:10-16
And they are to construct an ark of acacia wood, two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high. / Overlay it with pure gold both inside and out, and make a gold molding around it. / Cast four gold rings for it and fasten them to its four feet, two rings on one side and two on the other. ...

Exodus 26:33-34
And hang the veil from the clasps and place the ark of the Testimony behind the veil. So the veil will separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place. / Put the mercy seat on the ark of the Testimony in the Most Holy Place.

Exodus 40:3-5
Put the ark of the Testimony in it and screen off the ark with the veil. / Then bring in the table and set out its arrangement; bring in the lampstand as well, and set up its lamps. / Place the gold altar of incense in front of the ark of the Testimony, and hang the curtain at the entrance to the tabernacle.

1 Kings 8:6-8
Then the priests brought the ark of the covenant of the LORD to its place in the inner sanctuary of the temple, the Most Holy Place, beneath the wings of the cherubim. / For the cherubim spread their wings over the place of the ark and overshadowed the ark and its poles. / The poles extended far enough that their ends were visible from the Holy Place in front of the inner sanctuary, but not from outside the Holy Place; and they are there to this day.

2 Chronicles 5:7-9
Then the priests brought the ark of the covenant of the LORD to its place in the inner sanctuary of the temple, the Most Holy Place, beneath the wings of the cherubim. / For the cherubim spread their wings over the place of the ark and overshadowed the ark and its poles. / The poles of the ark extended far enough that their ends were visible from in front of the inner sanctuary, but not from outside the Holy Place; and they are there to this day.

Hebrews 9:3-5
Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place, / containing the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. Inside the ark were the gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant. / Above the ark were the cherubim of glory, overshadowing the mercy seat. But we cannot discuss these things in detail now.

Exodus 37:1-5
Bezalel went on to construct the ark of acacia wood, two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high. / He overlaid it with pure gold, both inside and out, and made a gold molding around it. / And he cast four gold rings for its four feet, two rings on one side and two on the other. ...

Exodus 40:20-21
Moses took the Testimony and placed it in the ark, attaching the poles to the ark; and he set the mercy seat atop the ark. / Then he brought the ark into the tabernacle, put up the veil for the screen, and shielded off the ark of the Testimony, just as the LORD had commanded him.

Leviticus 16:2
And the LORD said to Moses: “Tell your brother Aaron not to enter freely into the Most Holy Place behind the veil in front of the mercy seat on the ark, or else he will die, because I appear in the cloud above the mercy seat.

1 Samuel 4:4
So the people sent men to Shiloh, and they brought back the ark of the covenant of the LORD of Hosts, who sits enthroned between the cherubim. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.

2 Samuel 6:2
And he and all his troops set out for Baale of Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the Name—the name of the LORD of Hosts, who is enthroned between the cherubim that are on it.

1 Chronicles 13:6
David and all Israel went up to Baalah of Judah (that is, Kiriath-jearim) to bring up from there the ark of God the LORD, who is enthroned between the cherubim—the ark that is called by the Name.

1 Chronicles 15:15
And the Levites carried the ark of God on their shoulders with the poles, as Moses had commanded in accordance with the word of the LORD.

1 Chronicles 16:1
So they brought the ark of God and placed it inside the tent that David had pitched for it. And they presented burnt offerings and peace offerings before God.

Psalm 132:8
Arise, O LORD, to Your resting place, You and the ark of Your strength.


Treasury of Scripture

And when the camp sets forward, Aaron shall come, and his sons, and they shall take down the covering veil, and cover the ark of testimony with it:

and when

Numbers 2:16,17
All that were numbered in the camp of Reuben were an hundred thousand and fifty and one thousand and four hundred and fifty, throughout their armies. And they shall set forth in the second rank…

Numbers 10:14
In the first place went the standard of the camp of the children of Judah according to their armies: and over his host was Nahshon the son of Amminadab.

Aaron shall come.

Numbers 4:15
And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the vessels of the sanctuary, as the camp is to set forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear it: but they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die. These things are the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation.

Numbers 3:27-32
And of Kohath was the family of the Amramites, and the family of the Izeharites, and the family of the Hebronites, and the family of the Uzzielites: these are the families of the Kohathites…

they shall

Exodus 26:31-33
And thou shalt make a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning work: with cherubims shall it be made: …

Exodus 36:35
And he made a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen: with cherubims made he it of cunning work.

Exodus 40:3
And thou shalt put therein the ark of the testimony, and cover the ark with the vail.

and cover

Exodus 25:10-22
And they shall make an ark of shittim wood: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof…

Exodus 37:1-9
And Bezaleel made the ark of shittim wood: two cubits and a half was the length of it, and a cubit and a half the breadth of it, and a cubit and a half the height of it: …

2 Samuel 6:2-9
And David arose, and went with all the people that were with him from Baale of Judah, to bring up from thence the ark of God, whose name is called by the name of the LORD of hosts that dwelleth between the cherubims…

Jump to Previous
Aaron Ark Camp Cover Covered Covering Curtain Forward Hanging Journeying Move Moves Moveth Screen Sets Shielding Testimony Vail Veil Witness
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Aaron Ark Camp Cover Covered Covering Curtain Forward Hanging Journeying Move Moves Moveth Screen Sets Shielding Testimony Vail Veil Witness
Numbers 4
1. The age at which the Levites were to serve, and the duration of the service
4. The duty of the Kohathites
16. The charge of Eleazar
17. The office of the priests
21. The duty of the Gershonites
29. Of the Merarites
34. The number of the Kohathites
38. Of the Gershonites
42. And of the Merarites














Whenever the camp sets out
This phrase indicates a time of transition and movement for the Israelites. The Hebrew root for "sets out" is "nasa," which means to pull up, set out, or journey. This reflects the nomadic lifestyle of the Israelites during their wilderness wanderings. It signifies obedience to God's guidance, as the Israelites moved only when the cloud lifted from the tabernacle (Numbers 9:17). This movement is a reminder of the Christian journey, where believers are called to follow God's leading, trusting in His timing and direction.

Aaron and his sons
Aaron, the brother of Moses, and his sons were appointed as priests, a role of significant responsibility and honor. The priesthood was established by God to serve as mediators between Him and the people. This highlights the importance of spiritual leadership and the need for those who are consecrated to serve God faithfully. In a broader sense, it points to the priesthood of all believers in Christ, who are called to serve and intercede for others.

are to go in
The phrase "are to go in" suggests a deliberate and reverent approach to the sacred duties assigned to the priests. The Hebrew word "bo" implies entering with purpose and intention. This action underscores the holiness required in handling sacred objects and the reverence due to God's presence. It serves as a reminder for believers to approach God with humility and respect, recognizing the privilege of entering His presence through prayer and worship.

take down the veil of the curtain
The veil, or "paroketh" in Hebrew, was a significant element in the tabernacle, separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place. Taking down the veil was a task that required careful attention, symbolizing the barrier between God and humanity due to sin. In the New Testament, the tearing of the temple veil at Christ's crucifixion (Matthew 27:51) signifies the removal of this barrier, granting believers direct access to God through Jesus.

and cover the Ark of the Testimony with it
The Ark of the Testimony, also known as the Ark of the Covenant, was the most sacred object in the tabernacle, representing God's covenant with Israel and His presence among them. Covering the Ark with the veil was an act of protection and reverence, ensuring that it was not seen by unauthorized eyes. This act symbolizes the holiness of God and the need for atonement and mediation, ultimately fulfilled in Christ, who is the true Ark, embodying God's presence and covenant with humanity.

(5) Aaron shall come, and his sons . . . --Under ordinary circumstances the high priest himself might only enter the most holy place on one day in the year. At the time of the moving of the camp, however, the Divine Presence seems to have departed from the Holy of Holies, and to have ascended in the cloud which gave the signal for the removal.

The covering vail.--Better, the vail of the hanging or curtain--viz., that which separated the Holy of Holies from the Holy Place. (Comp. Numbers 3:31.)

Verse 5. - The covering veil. The curtain which hung before the holy of holies, afterwards known as "the veil of the temple" (Luke 23:45).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Whenever the camp
הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֔ה (ham·ma·ḥă·neh)
Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 4264: An encampment, an army

sets out,
בִּנְסֹ֣עַ (bin·sō·a‘)
Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 5265: To pull up, the tent-pins, start on a, journey

Aaron
אַהֲרֹ֤ן (’a·hă·rōn)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 175: Aaron -- an elder brother of Moses

and his sons
וּבָנָיו֙ (ū·ḇā·nāw)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1121: A son

are to go in,
וּבָ֨א (ū·ḇā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

take down
וְהוֹרִ֕דוּ (wə·hō·w·ri·ḏū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 3381: To come or go down, descend

the veil
פָּרֹ֣כֶת (pā·rō·ḵeṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 6532: A separatrix, screen

of the curtain,
הַמָּסָ֑ךְ (ham·mā·sāḵ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4539: A covering, screen

and cover
וְכִ֨סּוּ־ (wə·ḵis·sū-)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 3680: To plump, fill up hollows, to cover

the Ark
אֲרֹ֥ן (’ă·rōn)
Noun - common singular construct
Strong's 727: A chest, ark

of the Testimony
הָעֵדֻֽת׃ (hā·‘ê·ḏuṯ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5715: Testimony

with it.
בָ֔הּ (ḇāh)
Preposition | third person feminine singular
Strong's Hebrew


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OT Law: Numbers 4:5 When the camp moves forward Aaron shall (Nu Num.)
Numbers 4:4
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