Bible Strands
Numbers 4:16
Eleazar son of Aaron the priest shall oversee the oil for the light, the fragrant incense, the daily grain offering, and the anointing oil. He has oversight of the entire tabernacle and everything in it, including the holy objects and their utensils.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The LORD speaks these instructions to Moses and Aaron immediately after detailing the Kohathites' carrying duties. This occurs during the organizational phase of the wilderness journey, just before the camp prepares to relocate.
The words — The Hebrew word פְּקֻדַּת (pequddat) means "oversight" or "appointed responsibility," applied here to Eleazar's authority. He is charged with managing the oil for the light and the fragrant incense.
The thread — The required materials for these duties are specified in Exodus 25:6 and Exodus 30:23. Leviticus 24:2 later commands the Israelites to bring pure olive oil to keep the lamps burning continually.
Why it lands — The text assigns Eleazar direct administrative control over the tabernacle's sacred materials and objects. Readers must acknowledge that worship infrastructure requires designated personnel and strict procedural boundaries.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And to the office of Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest pertaineth the oil for the light, and the sweet incense, and the daily meat offering, and the anointing oil, and the oversight of all the tabernacle, and of all that therein is, in the sanctuary, and in the vessels thereof.
Cross-references
- Exodus 25:6 olive oil for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense;
- Leviticus 24:2 “Command the Israelites to bring you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to keep the lamps burning continually.
- Exodus 30:23 “Take the finest spices: 500 shekels of liquid myrrh, half that amount (250 shekels) of fragrant cinnamon, 250 shekels of fragrant cane,
- 1 Peter 2:25 For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
- Exodus 27:20 And you are to command the Israelites to bring you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to keep the lamps burning continually.
- Exodus 29:39 Offer one lamb in the morning and the other at twilight.
- Exodus 31:11 in addition to the anointing oil and fragrant incense for the Holy Place. They are to make them according to all that I have commanded you.”
- Exodus 37:29 He also made the sacred anointing oil and the pure, fragrant incense, the work of a perfumer.
- Leviticus 6:20 “This is the offering that Aaron and his sons must present to the LORD on the day he is anointed: a tenth of an ephah of fine flour as a regular grain offering, half of it in the morning and half in the evening.
- Numbers 3:32 The chief of the leaders of the Levites was Eleazar son of Aaron the priest; he oversaw those responsible for the duties of the sanctuary.