Numbers 4:7 - “On the table of show bread they shall spread a blue cloth, and put on it the dishes, the spoons, the bowls, and the cups with which to pour out; and the continual bread shall be on it.
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What does "Numbers 4:7" mean?
Numbers 4:7 describes the specific way the Kohathites were to handle the Table of Showbread when the Tabernacle was being moved. Let's break down the meaning of each element:
"On the table of show bread": The Table of Showbread (also called the Table of the Presence) was a special table in the Holy Place of the Tabernacle. It symbolized God's provision and fellowship with Israel.
"they shall spread a blue cloth": Blue was a significant color in the Tabernacle, often associated with royalty and heavenly things. Covering the Table with blue cloth indicated its sacredness and importance during transport.
"put on it the dishes, the spoons, the bowls, and the cups with which to pour out": These were the utensils used in connection with the Showbread. "Dishes" likely held the loaves. "Spoons" might have been for incense or other offerings associated with the table. "Bowls" and "cups" could have been used for libations (liquid offerings) that some scholars believe were part of the Table's ritual, though this is debated. The inclusion of these items ensures they were transported with the table and kept separate from other holy objects.
"and the continual bread shall be on it": "Continual bread" (or "perpetual bread") refers to the twelve loaves of bread that were always to be kept on the Table. This bread symbolized God's constant provision for the twelve tribes of Israel and their ongoing relationship with Him. The verse specifies that even during transport, the Showbread itself remained on the table, underscoring its importance and continuity.
In essence, the verse conveys the following:
1. Respect and Holiness: The careful wrapping and handling of the Table of Showbread with a blue cloth emphasized its sacredness.
2. Completeness and Order: All the necessary utensils and the bread itself were to be kept together and transported with the table, ensuring nothing was lost or mishandled.
3. Continuity: The presence of the "continual bread" on the table during transport demonstrated that God's provision and covenant relationship with Israel were ongoing, even during times of movement and transition.
4. Specific Responsibilities: This verse outlines the specific duties of the Kohathites, a Levitical family, in caring for the holy objects of the Tabernacle.
This passage highlights the meticulous care and reverence that were to be shown to the sacred objects of the Tabernacle, emphasizing the importance of order, respect, and continuity in serving God.
Numbers 4:7 - “On the table of show bread they shall spread a blue cloth, and put on it the dishes, the spoons, the bowls, and the cups with which to pour out; and the continual bread shall be on it.
What does "Numbers 4:7" mean?
Numbers 4:7 describes the specific way the Kohathites were to handle the Table of Showbread when the Tabernacle was being moved. Let's break down the meaning of each element:
"On the table of show bread": The Table of Showbread (also called the Table of the Presence) was a special table in the Holy Place of the Tabernacle. It symbolized God's provision and fellowship with Israel.
"they shall spread a blue cloth": Blue was a significant color in the Tabernacle, often associated with royalty and heavenly things. Covering the Table with blue cloth indicated its sacredness and importance during transport.
"put on it the dishes, the spoons, the bowls, and the cups with which to pour out": These were the utensils used in connection with the Showbread. "Dishes" likely held the loaves. "Spoons" might have been for incense or other offerings associated with the table. "Bowls" and "cups" could have been used for libations (liquid offerings) that some scholars believe were part of the Table's ritual, though this is debated. The inclusion of these items ensures they were transported with the table and kept separate from other holy objects.
"and the continual bread shall be on it": "Continual bread" (or "perpetual bread") refers to the twelve loaves of bread that were always to be kept on the Table. This bread symbolized God's constant provision for the twelve tribes of Israel and their ongoing relationship with Him. The verse specifies that even during transport, the Showbread itself remained on the table, underscoring its importance and continuity.
In essence, the verse conveys the following:
1. Respect and Holiness: The careful wrapping and handling of the Table of Showbread with a blue cloth emphasized its sacredness.
2. Completeness and Order: All the necessary utensils and the bread itself were to be kept together and transported with the table, ensuring nothing was lost or mishandled.
3. Continuity: The presence of the "continual bread" on the table during transport demonstrated that God's provision and covenant relationship with Israel were ongoing, even during times of movement and transition.
4. Specific Responsibilities: This verse outlines the specific duties of the Kohathites, a Levitical family, in caring for the holy objects of the Tabernacle.
This passage highlights the meticulous care and reverence that were to be shown to the sacred objects of the Tabernacle, emphasizing the importance of order, respect, and continuity in serving God.