Numbers 4:31

This is the duty for all their service at the Tent of Meeting: to carry the frames of the tabernacle with its crossbars, posts, and bases,

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Moses outlines the census and specific transport assignments for the Levitical clans preparing to move the Tent of Meeting. The instructions address the leaders and the designated workers aged thirty to fifty.

The words — מִשְׁמֶרֶת (mish.Meret) denotes the assigned duty or guard, while קַרְשֵׁי (kar.Shei) literally means frames or boards. The text pairs these terms to define the exact physical load required for the sanctuary.

The thread — Exodus 26:15 details the initial construction of these frames, and Numbers 7:8 records the provision of carts and oxen to support this transport work. The same inventory of sanctuary hardware appears in Numbers 3:36.

Why it lands — The verse demands precise identification of sacred objects and explicit assignment of labor to specific workers. It requires readers to recognize that holy service involves concrete, accountable physical work rather than abstract devotion.

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

וְזֹאת֙ve./zoTand/ this מִשְׁמֶ֣רֶתmish.Me.ret[is] [the] duty of מַשָּׂאָ֔םma.sa.'A/mcarrying/ their לְכָל־le./kholfor/ all עֲבֹדָתָ֖ם'a.vo.da.Ta/mservice/ their בְּאֹ֣הֶלbe./'O.helin/ [the] tent of מוֹעֵ֑דmo.'Edmeeting קַרְשֵׁי֙kar.Shei[the] frames of הַמִּשְׁכָּ֔ןha./mish.Kanthe/ tabernacle וּבְרִיחָ֖יוu./ve.ri.Cha/vand/ bars/ its וְעַמּוּדָ֥יוve./'a.mu.Da/vand/ pillars/ its וַאֲדָנָֽיו׃va./'a.da.Na/vand/ bases/ its

King James Version

And this is the charge of their burden, according to all their service in the tabernacle of the congregation; the boards of the tabernacle, and the bars thereof, and the pillars thereof, and sockets thereof,

Cross-references

Numbers 3:36 The duties assigned to the sons of Merari were the tabernacle’s frames, crossbars, posts, bases, and all its equipment—all the service for these items,
Exodus 26:15 You are to construct upright frames of acacia wood for the tabernacle.
Numbers 7:8 and he gave the Merarites four carts and eight oxen, as their service required, all under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.