Chapter 4
Next, the sons of Kohath are numbered, all aged 30-50. Their job is described: Whenever God decides the people should move, Moses and his sons come in and cover all the most holy things - the ark, the table, the altar, and so on - with various materials. The veil covers the altar, then goatskin, then a blue cloth, and similar for the other items. The utensils are also placed there, and then the poles for carrying these items are put in place. Once all this is done, then the sons of Kohath do the transporting of these items. BUT, they are not to touch any of them, lest they die.
"2025 - NASB95 calls one of the materials used to cover various things "porpoise skin". KJV and others call that same material badger skins. I found this from an internet search:
The meaning of the word תְּחָשִׁים (tÿkhashim) is debated. The Arabic tuhas or duhas is a dolphin, and so some think a sea animal is meant – something like a dolphin or porpoise (cf. NASB; ASV “sealskins”; NIV “hides of sea cows”). Porpoises are common in the Red Sea; their skins are used for clothing by the bedouin. The word has also been connected to an Egyptian word for “leather” (ths); see S. R. Driver, Exodus, 265. Some variation of this is followed by NRSV (“fine leather”) and NLT (“fine goatskin leather”). Another suggestion connects this word to an Akkadian one that describes a precious stone that is yellow or ornge[sic] and also leather died with the color of this stone (N. M. Sarna, Exodus [JPSTC], 157-58).
It also includes a handful of other translations:
"fine leather" (NET)"fine goatskin leather" (NLT)"dolphin skins" (MSG)"leather" (BBE)"fine leather" (NRSV)
The New King James Version preserved the King James rendering of "badger skins", which probably has its own history that might be lost to time." https://hermeneutics.stackexchange.com/questions/218/what-translation-philosophies-have-caused-such-a-wide-variation-in-the-translati
So we really don't know for sure what it was, there is no consensus at all. One thing that jumped out at me from this information is that the bedouin used porpoise skin as clothing. How they got enough of the stuff from a marine mammal I cannot fathom. But if there was enough for desert wanderers to use as clothing, I suppose it is a credible translation of the word.
A census is taken of the sons of Gershon from 30-50. This must be where the tradition of prophets and such beginning their ministry at the age of 30 comes from. It was set up that way by God. Jesus was 30 when he started, John the Baptist...and I think there's an OT prophet or two that started at 30. I will keep an eye out for that.
2023 - This verse:
20 but they shall not go in to look on the holy things even for a moment, lest they die." [Num 4:20 ESV]. This seems to say that ONLY Aaron, Moses, and Aaron's anointed sons ever got to see the furnishings of the Holy Place or the Holy of Holies. The people never saw them, they just knew that they were in there. Sort of a faith in what they could not see I guess. All those things had to be packed and covered before the Kohathites could take charge of moving it. And if they saw or touched what they were forbidden to see or touch, they died instantly. All these things were covered so the clan of Kohath would not die out from seeing these things. Imagine the intensity of the covering process! If it was done wrong, you wouldn't die, but it was likely someone from Kohath would. It was serious business having this tent and its furnishings right there with you!
The Gershonites would be supervised by Ithamar.
Next, the sons of Merari, from 30-50 are counted.
Tasks that each Levite clan was responsible for clearly and plainly listed.