The more important roles of transporting the furnishings of the Tabernacle were given to the Kohathites. It took some 20 verses to cover what they needed to know. The roles of the Gershonites and the Merarites were less important so fewer verses were needed to cover the instructions.
The
Gershonites were assigned to deal with everything that had to do with the
curtains as well as both the cloth and goatskins covering of the Tabernacle.
Verses 25-26 described their role. “They shall carry the curtains of
the tabernacle and the tent of meeting with its covering and the covering
of goatskin that is on top of it and the screen for the entrance of the tent of
meeting and the hangings of the court and the screen for the entrance of
the gate of the court that is around the tabernacle and the altar, and their
cords and all the equipment for their service. And they shall do all that needs
to be done with regard to them.” Then in verses 29-33 we see the description of
the roles of the Merarites. Their roles had to do with everything that
concerned the frames of the Tabernacle. These included the bars, pillars,
bases, pegs, cords, and all the equipment and accessories needed to assemble
the Tabernacle and keep it properly set up. The Kohathites reported to Eleazar.
But the Gershonites and Merarites worked under the direction and supervision
of Ithamar, the son of Aaron the priest.
On
the instructions in the counting of the men from the Kohathites, Gershonites, and Merarites, fit for the task of ferrying the Tabernacle, Moses was told to
count those between thirty to fifty years of age. For guard duty of the
Tabernacle, it appears that Levites of all ages could be used but for the
ferrying job, only Levites 30-50 years were deployed. So a total of
8,570 men, thirty to fifty years from the clans of Kohath, Gershon, and Merari,
were enlisted for the duty to ferry the different parts of the Tabernacle. The
number of the Kohathites total 2,750, the Gershonites 2,620, and the
Merarites 3,200.
Two
lessons to apply: firstly know that a person is at the prime of his or
her life at the age of thirty to fifty. And the best service to God must be
offered at the prime of our life. Like what Solomon said in the closing chapter
of the book of Ecclesiastes, we don’t wait till every part of our body is
failing then offer to God our ailing bodies. No, never should we give to God
the leftovers of our lives. He deserves the best of who we are. So be sure to
give Him the best of who we are at the prime of life.
Secondly,
details in God’s work matter. He saw to every minute detail of the Tabernacle,
including how it should be transported and how it should be set up and who to
do it. Coordination and co-operation between workers would be needed to ensure
effectiveness and efficiency in carrying out each person’s duties. So it
was in the task of the Tabernacle, and it shall be in the advancement of the
work of God through the church. Each one of us must seek to know our God-given
assignments, and then put them to work to actively and diligently serve Him. Paul
in Colossians 3:17 reminds us that, “And whatever you do,
in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to
God the Father through Him.”
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